The Loneliness Epidemic
Half of U.S. adults suffer from social isolation, the Surgeon General reports
Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued a report titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” in which he focused on the healing effects of social connection and the dire consequences of the lack of it.
The CDC defines an epidemic as an “unexpected increase in the number of disease cases in a specific geographical area.” Obviously, loneliness isn’t a disease, but Dr. Murthy—and dozens of researchers who contributed to his report—sees that condition as an epidemic nonetheless, affecting a staggering 1 out of 2 adults in America today.
The problem is hardly new. Gradually and imperceptibly, the social fabric has been fraying since the 1970s. The report attributes that decades-long trend to demographic changes, inadequate public investment in communities, the internet and related technologies, longer-than-ever hours spent at work, political polarization, and, most recently, the coronavirus pandemic.
Other drivers of social isolation include the decline of unions and neighborhood associations, as well as of churchgoing and other forms of religious participation.
And then there are cultural and ideological intangibles, which aren’t mentioned in the report. We Americans live in an individualistic culture that teaches each one of us to be the CEO of our own lives. To pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and pursue some version of the American Dream. To work extremely long hours to a point where we have very little time to spend with our loved ones, much less our friends and neighbors, and even less time for volunteering and community service.
By the time we’re in our 70s and beyond, our social networks may have dwindled to a mere fraction of their former size. Friends and relatives have died. Most of us are no longer working, so we don’t interact regularly with our colleagues. (I’ve been a freelance writer for years, so it has been a long time since I schmoozed with my co-workers at the water cooler.)
Social isolation is an objective condition, while loneliness is the subjective experience that arises from it. According to Dr. Murthy’s report, older adults experience greater social isolation than any other age group. But, sadly, young adults are lonelier than we are, possibly due to their greater social media use and the effects of decades of disinvestment in our communities.
The alluring myth of small town life
Last month, in the run up to Christmas, I found myself watching a slew of holiday-themed movies on the Hallmark Channel. Not sure what possessed me to indulge in such lightweight, romantic, escapist fare night after night. For one, I’ve “retired” from romance, and my version of Christmas has more to do with music than with garlands and wreaths and gift-giving.
I was in the grip of a favorite American female fantasy: the one featuring a young woman making her way in the big city who ends up spending the holidays in a small town—often the town where she was born and raised—and rediscovers her roots, the love of family, and, of course, her high school sweetheart. Or some other charming gentleman.
But none of these themes were responsible for my addiction. Rather, Hallmark movies were my antidote to loneliness.
The American small town is supposed to be a place where everybody knows everybody, where people care about their neighbors, and where help and support are never far away. It’s also a place where older adults are treated with love and respect.
I haven’t tested my hypothesis yet, but I suspect that small towns in the United States ain’t what they used to be. Why does rural America vote for angry conservatives, while city dwellers usually opt for more humane candidates? I won’t attempt to answer that one. Mainly, I don’t believe in the Hallmark Channel’s perfect little towns, where kindness rules and life hasn’t changed much since the 1950s.
And yet the myth comforted me when I needed comforting.
What is to be done?
Dr. Murthy proposes a national policy agenda designed to foster greater social connection and counter isolation and loneliness. That’s because the problem is national in scope, and solving it will require an all-hands-on-deck approach.
For example, federal, state, and local governments should invest in the built environment, such as libraries, parks, playgrounds, and other community spaces where people can interact and get to know each other.
And because the loneliness epidemic has been linked to worsening health on a massive scale—for example, the report cites a 29 percent increase in the risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increase in the risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults—Dr. Murthy recommends engaging the health sector to address loneliness as a proven cause of these and other poor health outcomes.
He also advances the need for pro-connection policies in such disparate areas as transportation, zoning, nutrition, and labor, along with paid leave.
The government should enact national digital safety standards, especially as these pertain to young people, and data transparency laws, he advises.
And a culture of connection should be actively promoted in the nation’s schools, workplaces, and communities.
Beyond the individual
Most of us tend to think that if we’re lonely, it must be our fault. Maybe we don’t have a gift for friendship, or we don’t make enough of an effort to connect with others, or we’re introverts by nature. But with 1 out of 2 American adults afflicted with loneliness, it doesn’t make sense to blame ourselves for a condition that’s as long-standing as it is widespread.
That’s a relief, in a way. No loneliness shaming! The epidemic isn’t determined by our genes, personality traits, upbringing, or force of will. It’s societal. Houston, we have a solidarity deficit.
But there’s still a lot we individuals can do to mitigate loneliness and connect with our fellow humans. Among the most obvious measures we can take, Dr. Murthy suggests, are to nurture our relationships, seek opportunities to serve and support others, and participate in social and community groups.
Some of the less obvious steps might include actively engaging with people from different backgrounds and experiences, limiting social media and screen use, and making time for civic engagement.
Regarding the last item on that list, I just filled out an application to join my local Community Board. If I’m called upon to serve, will it make me feel more connected, or will I end up frustrated with my fellow Upper Westsiders, with their reputation for being grumpy and opinionated? (Mea culpa!) Well, nothing ventured…
Whenever I ride the bus or subway, I often find I'm the only person -- or one among very few -- who does not have his nose buried in his mobile phone. Actually, this pattern holds true when I'm walking down the street. If stories are to be believed, many towns in the old American West required all strangers to deposit their guns with the local sheriff. Perhaps they were onto something. Let's make cellphones uncool, like wearing hair curlers while out shopping.