The Dangers of (and Saviors to) Loneliness
- Website Tech
- Oct 28
- 4 min read
Written by: Deepika Miryala
Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah and Nadia Hall
Abstract
Social connection is vital to our well-being. Being together makes us feel secure and visible. When we neglect this innate need, we suffer. With the digital age in full swing, we isolate more frequently without realizing it, allowing the consequences of seclusion to fester without us even realizing it. Modern life makes it easy to neglect relationships because we are so consumed by the constant demands and stimulation of the world around us. As the body of knowledge on this issue expands, we have learned of the widespread nature and physiological implications of isolation, as well as brainstormed ways to overcome these challenges. World leaders have taken an interest, and advocacy has arisen, but more has to be understood and acted upon to truly counteract the destruction. However, by putting loneliness in the spotlight and working to bridge these interpersonal divides, we can rebuild a world more closely connected than ever before.
Introduction: What is the Loneliness Epidemic?
The loneliness epidemic has become a hot issue in the past few decades, with former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy being the primary advocate against this disconnect between people. According to a survey by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, 21% of adults report experiencing intense feelings of loneliness (Ross, 2024). While there is not much discrepancy between genders, the hardest-hit age groups were individuals aged 30-44 and 18-29 (Ross, 2024). But what is even more concerning than these numbers is the fact that loneliness has a growing rate of prevalence.
Consequences of Loneliness
On both physical and psychological levels, we can see the harm of our dwindling social connections. First, it is essential to understand how the loneliness epidemic has manifested in modern America. Research from a 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that between 2003 and 2020, the average daily minutes of social isolation went from 285 minutes to 333 minutes (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023). There was a decrease in household engagement of 5 hours per month, and a sharp decline in social engagement with others by 10 hours per month (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023).
The connection between loneliness and potentially carcinogenic habits has become statistically significant in recent years: studies show that experiencing severe loneliness can have effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023). Though information on the harms of smoking floods us every day, there is a severe deficit of information and awareness of the harms of loneliness. Aside from that, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that loneliness can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2024). It may be difficult for many to imagine these consequences because loneliness does not seem like a physical issue, but this emerging research shows how ingrained our need for connection truly is.
The effects of loneliness extend psychologically in various ways. Isolated individuals generally have a higher risk of anxiety and depression (CDC, 2024). This may be because we rely on social connections to lighten our mental burdens and fulfill a hardwired need for human interaction. The problem is that these gaps are not seen to be as detrimental to one's health as other basic needs are. People need food to survive, so we eat. We need rest to survive, so we sleep. However, what we sometimes forget is that we also need interpersonal contact to survive.
Combating Loneliness Together
So, it is time to reverse these trends. Solving loneliness inherently takes a community effort. Divisions at this level are not solved by the individual but by the voices and actions of many, and solving public health problems requires public advocacy.
In an advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation, the Office of the Surgeon General recommends that communities build more infrastructure that supports human connection, such as parks and libraries (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023). Additionally, we can educate ourselves on the issue and effectively advocate to health departments to integrate goals that mitigate the loneliness epidemic into their agendas.
Dr. Vivek Murthy himself offers insights into the steps that need to be taken. In a 2024 TED podcast episode with host Adam Grant, Dr. Murthy explains that relationships depend much more on quality than quantity (Grant, 2024). Having a large group of friends means nothing if you are not actually close with them, which has become a norm in the digital age, with social media labeling hundreds of people as “friends”. Dr. Murthy emphasizes that close friends, the kind you can rely on in a crisis and can be vulnerable with, are the true saviors of the loneliness epidemic (Grant, 2024).
Conclusion
If we can give the loneliness epidemic the attention it deserves, we can create a more connected culture. As science reveals the striking effects isolation has had on us in recent decades, communities need to respond by implementing policies that target social cohesion, and individuals need to prioritize the relationships in their lives. As put by Dr. Murthy, “While loneliness has the potential to kill, connection has even more potential to heal” (McCarthy, 2020).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. Social Connection. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html
Grant, A. (Host). (2024, October 22). Overcoming Loneliness with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy [Podcast]. In ReThinking with Adam Grant. TED. https://www.ted.com/pages/overcoming-loneliness-transcript
McCarthy, M. (2020, April 26). Review: Loneliness a hidden and serious health scourge, Vivek Murthy argues in timely book. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/04/26/book-review-together-loneliness-bad-health-says-vivek-murthy/5169442002/
Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. US Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
Ross, Elizabeth. (2024, October 25). What is Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and How Can We Fix It? Harvard Graduate School of Education. www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/24/10/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-it