Less than half of people older than 45 admitted to being lonely. However, most people younger than 45 cited feeling lonely to a moderate or considerable degree.
Connecting with other people in healthy ways
In the wake of this new survey, Gallup senior research consultant Ellyn Maese warned that no age group remains immune to feeling lonely or suffering the adverse impacts of loneliness.
Because of all the studies centering around how this impacts aging adults, it’s easy to buy into the misconception that younger people have nothing to worry about.
Thankfully, there are some steps that folks can take to combat loneliness and develop healthy interpersonal relationships.
Joining social clubs, fitness classes, or other recreational groups in the community are great starting points. These environments bring together like-minded people with similar interests who can easily bond with one another.
Finally, giving a friend a phone call, meeting up with a relative for coffee, or even video chatting with an old acquaintance can go a very long way. Without active work to replace loneliness with positive relationships, people remain more vulnerable to emotional and mental health challenges.
