•March 27, 2024•

The personal, social, and health implications for individuals and communities

By Angela Hogan

According to the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory, around 20% of adults in the United States reported feeling lonely or socially isolated.

Loneliness and isolation are separate but related concepts. Isolation is a lack of social connections, while loneliness is the emotional experience of feeling alone, even when surrounded by others.

Overall, older adults, people with disabilities, and geographically isolated people are particularly vulnerable to loneliness. Social and economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, and discrimination also increase the risk of loneliness and isolation.

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