Loneliness is a social epidemic that affects all of us – in both our personal and professional lives. I’m confident we can all recount a moment where we felt alone and isolated, whether it was at school, at work, or even in our own homes.
And loneliness is more than just a feeling. It has health and well-being consequences, as well as financial consequences. We lose our sense of purpose, our sense of confidence, our sense of drive, our sense of ambition, and our sense of determination.
But some groups, collectively, are more affected by loneliness and isolation than others. Here they are in no particular order.
- Teenagers (age 13–19): This cohort is currently recognized as the loneliest age group worldwide, with nearly 25% (1 in 4) of all teenagers reporting significant loneliness. Many attribute virtual interactions and fewer interpersonal interactions as a leading cause. This is incredibly troubling for an age group that should be involved in regular group interactions, as well as beginning to understand how to navigate group dynamics.
- Adults with Health-Related Factors: Approximately 33% of all working-age adults experience persistent loneliness, according to a Brown study. This cohort tends to struggle with chronic lack of companionship and inclusion in social life. Barriers for this group include limited accessibility due to health-related factors, as well as a general stigma toward those with health-related issues.
- Young Men (15–34): Many young men feel alone and isolated in the United States, with approximately 25% expressing a sense of loneliness according to a Gallup poll. This number is actually higher than the national average (18%), as well as the total for young women (18%).
- Transgender and Nonbinary Adults: For this group, the prevalence of loneliness exceeds 60%. That’s an incredibly high number of adults that feel isolated or alone due to gender identity. For comparison, the prevalence of loneliness amongst cisgender adults is approximately 32%.
- Black and Latino Populations: Nearly 60% of the general population feels a sense of isolation and loneliness, but Black and Latino populations are significantly higher. Seventy-five percent (75%) of Latino adults and 68% of Black have expressed feelings of loneliness.
What does all this mean?
Loneliness doesn’t discriminate by age, gender, or cultural background. It truly affects all of us in different ways. And the reasons for loneliness vary as well. There was a time in our history where places like work were instrumental in helping us develop close-knit communities and lasting relationships. By and large, those days are gone.
A study by Bingo Card Creator shows that friendships don’t really happen in the work environment anymore, with nearly 25% of survey respondents saying they didn’t have a single friend at work. But nearly half of those surveyed also wanted closer relationships at work. And with teenagers topping the list as the loneliest age group, the likelihood of the loneliness problem persisting when they enter the workforce is high.
What can be done?
There are multiple ways we can address loneliness. Some require policy changes and greater investment in social infrastructure (such as parks, libraries, and other public places that facilitate connection). But those are beyond most of us.
On a personal level, we can:
- Reach out to a friend in need
- Be fully present for conversations (instead of looking at our phones)
- Greet a neighbor
- Volunteer
Workplace connection is something that employees want and benefits companies. Our mission at Generus is to build lasting connections through community engagement to help combat the effects of loneliness. We combine meaningful experiences with tools that make giving back easy and accessible, we help teams feel more connected to each other, their company, and the causes they care about. Check out what we can do for you.
