The Loneliness Factor

In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health epidemic. Loneliness—the feeling that you don’t have as many meaningful or close relationships as you’d like—has real and significant impacts on physical and mental health. If you or someone in your life is lonely, taking action can improve both happiness and healthiness.

If you are in poor health, you may be more likely to be socially isolated or lonely. If you are socially isolated or feeling lonely, it can put your physical and mental health at risk.

Social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher risk for many things, including anxiety, cognitive decline, depression, heart disease, obesity, stroke, and weakened immune function.

People who are socially isolated or lonely are more likely to be admitted to the emergency room, have longer hospital stays, and enter care facilities earlier. They are also prone to making poor lifestyle choices, like smoking, having poor sleep habits, getting too little physical activity, and drinking too much alcohol, which can further increase the risk of serious health conditions. Younger adults are more likely than older adults to say they use alcohol or drugs when feeling lonely.

If you are experiencing loneliness, re-engaging with family, friends, and the community could have important impacts on your physical and mental health. If someone you know is isolated for any reason, reaching out (as well as helping to connect them to resources) could make a significant difference in their quality of life—and perhaps their long-term health as well.

Here are some ideas:

Volunteer. Help others while you meet new people and gain a sense of purpose. Join a cause, help at a food bank, use your professional skills to benefit others, stuff envelopes for a charity, participate in environmental cleanups, be a mentor…there is a need to match every level of ability and time frame. The AARP’s Create the Good program can match you with service opportunities in your area.

Reach Out. Engage with friends, family, and neighbors. Reach out via phone, email, text, social media, or through the mail. Take the opportunity to suggest a visit or in-person activity to help strengthen existing relationships. Introduce yourself to neighbors you don’t know yet (perhaps deliver cards inviting the block or hall to tea or a pot-luck dinner).

Find Community. Join (or start) a book club, film club, bridge club, board game club, lodge, charitable club…the opportunities are endless. For older adults, senior centers are a great resource (many offer a communal lunch once a week, or even daily). For caregivers, respite care for your loved one may be available to give you (and them) time to connect with others. Check the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP’s Community Resource Finder for aging-related programs and services in your area.

Connect Online. While face-to-face interactions tend to be better for forming close relationships, online resources can help with social interactions, especially where mobility or opportunities are limited. Support groups, chat groups around special interests, and neighborhood forums are all good online options.

Consider a Faith-Based Organization. Besides the opportunity to deepen your spirituality, faith-based organizations offer many activities and events where you can engage with others.

Join a Team (or a Gym). Group activities, such as a walking club, group fitness class, or even doing online yoga with a friend, are a great way to increase activity, lift your mood, and interact with people. One study found that participating in pickleball was associated with lower levels of perceived loneliness and lower risk of social isolation in older adults.

Attend a Class or Lecture. Local school districts, townships, public libraries, social service agencies, community and senior centers, museums, community colleges, and many universities have educational opportunities available. Find something that interests you and sign up!

Develop a Hobby. Whether you explore something new or restart an old hobby, doing something you enjoy can ease the burden of loneliness, give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and help you connect to people with similar interests.

Adopt a Pet. If you are able to care for one, a pet can bring joy, companionship, and unconditional love. In a poll by the American Psychiatric Association, 31 percent of respondents reported connecting with a pet to ease feelings of loneliness.

Find a Therapist. In person or virtually, talking to a trained professional can ease the psychological burden of loneliness and help you find ways to live your best life. Loneliness and depression go hand-in-hand, and treatment for one can help the other.

Join a Support Group. Caregivers, people experiencing grief, those with chronic health conditions, and people who turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with loneliness are just some of the groups who can benefit from in person or virtual support. Talking to people in the same situation as you, with the guidance of a trained leader, can be very beneficial.

This article originally appeared in the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, published each month by the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.