The Loneliness Epidemic and What the World is Doing to Fight It
Paz Etcheverry, MS, PhD
April 2024
The loneliness epidemic has been touted as an epidemic of modern societies. According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, the current Surgeon General of the United States, more than half of American adults are lonely.[9] Globally, it has been estimated that 1 in 4 older people experience social isolation and between 5 and 15 percent of adolescents experience loneliness.[20]
Loneliness is a feeling that may arise at certain moments in life and affects anyone, regardless of gender, age, or socio-demographic characteristics.[22] Loneliness is synonymous with perceived social isolation, not with objective social isolation. In other words, people can live relatively solitary lives and not feel lonely. Conversely, people can lead a seemingly rich social life and feel lonely.[10] Loneliness is a distressing feeling that accompanies the perception that one’s social needs are not being met by the quantity or quality of one’s social relationships.[10]
Causes of Loneliness
There are numerous root causes of loneliness such as lack of social skills, disagreeableness, and antisocial behavioral tendencies. For example, less agreeable adolescents are more likely to report a chronically high level of loneliness.[6] Social media might also be to blame.[6] A study found that the more time spent on social media, the greater the risk of loneliness overall, especially for people who used social media as a means for maintaining relationships.[3] We have become less trustworthy of others, which contributes to social isolation and loneliness.[2] [18] [21] Living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illnesses, long-term disabilities, going through changes such as the loss of a job or divorce, sensory impairments, and psychiatric or depressive disorders might cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness.[4] [16]
Effects of Loneliness on Health
Loneliness can impact both physical and mental well-being. Higher risk of heart disease, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, and metabolic disorders, such as obesity and metabolic disease, have all been associated with loneliness.[22] In fact, loneliness increases the likelihood of early death by 26 percent—an increase roughly equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness has been associated with an increased risk of depression, psychosis, mental disorders, anxiety, stress, and suicide.[12] [14] [22]
What the World is Doing to Fight Loneliness
In light of this epidemic and its insidious effects, governments and companies alike are attempting to tackle loneliness. Here are a few examples.
- In 2018, the UK appointed its first Loneliness Ministry to develop and support innovative anti-loneliness programs.[11]
- The National Health Service of the UK has funded social prescribing, an approach where doctors can refer their patients to activities, groups, and services in their community,[9] such as pottery classes, language courses, dance, and cooking lessons to name a few.
- The Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, launched by the UK government in January 2023, is a £30-million funding initiative aimed at increasing community participation and addressing loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas across England. The fund focuses on supporting individuals in these areas to connect through volunteering, enhancing their well-being.[5]
- Japan’s Prime Minister appointed a Minister of Loneliness in 2021 to address the rising issues of loneliness, social isolation, and increased suicide rates exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions, which have mainly affected women and the elderly.[17]
- In 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed 95-year-old media personality and sex therapist Dr. Ruth, also known as Ruth Westheimer, as the state’s Loneliness Ambassador to address the growing issue of loneliness.[19]
- That same year, Australia launched its first ever Loneliness Awareness Week (7 through 11 August), which aims to raise awareness about loneliness and its impact on mental and physical health and to encourage individuals and communities to take action to reduce loneliness and increase social connections.[13]
- In response to reports of over a million people in South Korea living as recluses due to the coronavirus scare, the government has introduced a monthly living allowance of US $490 for lonely youths to encourage them to leave their homes.[1]
- It is not only governments that take action when it comes to fighting loneliness. The Dutch grocery store chain Jumbo has created slow “chat checkout” lanes where cashiers take time to talk with people. Additionally, Jumbo has created “chat corners” where people can enjoy coffee and small talk.[15]
- In Ireland, Friends of the Elderly, established in 1980 as a volunteer-based charity, is dedicated to combating loneliness among older individuals living alone. With a small staff and committed volunteers, the organization provides emotional and social support to improve the lives of older members, promoting independence and a sense of community connection.[8]
- Ventilen, which translates to “friend to one” in Danish, is a two-decade-old initiative designed to unite individuals aged 15 to 25 in Denmark. Organized twice a week, the program pairs 2 or 3 volunteers with the participants. Within the group, activities such as playing games, preparing meals, attending cinema outings, and fostering essential human connections take place, addressing the sense of connection that many in this age group may be seeking.[7]
In conclusion, the global battle against the loneliness epidemic is gaining momentum, with various nations implementing strategies to address this pervasive issue. From government to community-based initiatives fostering social connections, the world is actively seeking solutions to combat loneliness.
References
[1] Awasthi, A. (2023). ‘Hikikomori’: South Korea paying its ‘lonely’ youth to go out and socialise. https://www.firstpost.com/world/hikikomori-south-korea-paying-its-lonely-youth-to-go-out-a nd-socialise-12449452.html
[2] Barjaková, M., Garnero, A., & d’Hombres, B. (2023). Risk factors for loneliness: A literature review. Social science & medicine (1982), 334, 116163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116163
[3] Bonsaksen, T., Ruffolo, M., Price, D., Leung, J., Thygesen, H., Lamph, G., Kabelenga, I., & Geirdal, A. Ø. (2023). Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine,11(1), 2158089. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089
[4] Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2023). Health Risks of Social Isolation and Loneliness. https://www.cdc.gov/emotional-wellbeing/social-connectedness/loneliness.htm
[5] Department of Culture, Media and Sport (2023). About the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/about-the-know-your-neighbourhood-fund
[6] Dibb, B., & Foster, M. (2021). Loneliness and Facebook use: the role of social comparison and rumination. Heliyon, 7(1), e05999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05999
[7] Dr. Happy (2023). A simple way to combat loneliness; lessons from the Danes. https://drhappy.com.au/2019/04/23/a-simple-way-to-combat-loneliness-lessons-from-the-dan es/
[8] Friends of the Elderly Ireland (n.d.). Bringing Friendship and Companionship. https://friendsoftheelderly.ie/about/
[9] Global Wellness Summit (2023). Governments Ramp Up the War on Loneliness. https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/blog/governments-ramp-up-the-war-on-loneliness/
[10] Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: a theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine: A Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8
[11] John, T. (2018). How the World’s First Loneliness Minister Will Tackle ‘the Sad Reality of Modern Life’.https://time.com/5248016/tracey-crouch-uk-loneliness-minister/
[12] King, M. (2018). Working to address the loneliness epidemic: perspective-taking, presence, and self-disclosure. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(5),1315–1317. doi:10.1177/0890117118776735c
[13] Loneliness Awareness Week (2023). Lonely, not Alone. https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/
[14] Mann, F., Wang, J., Pearce, E., Ma, R., Schlief, M., Lloyd-Evans, B., Ikhtabi, S., & Johnson, S. (2022). Loneliness and the onset of new mental health problems in the general population. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57(11), 2161–2178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02261-7
[15] Moran, P.D. (2023). Aisles Abroad: Dutch grocer Jumbo embraces a slower checkout option. https://www.grocerydive.com/news/aisles-abroad-dutch-grocer-jumbo-slow-chat-checkouts/6 45702/
[16] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on the Health and Medical Dimensions of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults. (2020). Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. National Academies Press (US).
[17] OMF (2021). Japan Appoints Minister of Loneliness, Can He Solve the Loneliness Problem? https://omf.org/us/japan-appoints-minister-of-loneliness-can-he-solve-the-loneliness-problem/
[18] Rapolienė, G., & Aartsen, M. (2021). Lonely societies: low trust societies? Further explanations for national variations in loneliness among older Europeans. European Journal of Ageing, 19(3), 485–494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-021-00649-z
[19] The New York Times (2023). Dr. Ruth Saved People’s Sex Lives. Now She Wants to Cure Loneliness. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/09/nyregion/dr-ruth-loneliness-ambassador.html
[20] World Health Organization (2024). Social Isolation and Loneliness. https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-a geing/social-isolation-and-loneliness
[21] Yang, J., & Moorman, S. M. (2021). Beyond the Individual: Evidence Linking Neighborhood Trust and Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 92(1), 22–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415019871201
[22] Yanguas, J., Pinazo-Henandis, S., & Tarazona-Santabalbina, F. J. (2018). The complexity of loneliness. Acta bio-medica: Atenei Parmensis, 89(2), 302–314. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v89i2.7404
