The Loneliness Epidemic: What the Research Says

The loneliness epidemic has made headlines since the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General report (PDF, 8.4 MB), Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. But it’s more complicated than what popular media suggests. 

Below, we’ll examine factors driving the loneliness epidemic, common misconceptions about how it presents among men and women, and actionable steps to reduce loneliness. 

According to the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General report (PDF, 8.4 MB), loneliness is a subjective internal state: a distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or unmet social needs, often occurring when the kind of connection a person wants differs from the connection they have. 

This is different from social isolation, which is the objective experience of having few social relationships, social roles, group memberships, and infrequent social contact. Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation stems from the convergence of both factors, and the combination often leads to serious health consequences, the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General report (PDF, 8.4 MB) warned. 

Almost half of Americans (49%) reported having three or fewer close friends in 2021, compared to just over a quarter (27%) in 1990, said the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General report (PDF, 8.4 MB). However, a 2024 CDC report on loneliness found that 33% of women felt lonely, compared to 31% of men. So why have the media and popular culture fixated on male loneliness, when women experience it at similar and, in some cases, higher rates?

Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist, attributes part of the attention on male loneliness to more open conversations about mental health and the way men express their mental health struggles. “Men have been struggling with their mental health, as humans do, as young adults… but they definitely weren’t as comfortable talking about it. Now they’re talking about it more,” she told NPR in 2026.

Men and women tend to process (and manifest) mental health struggles differently, which can be a determinant in who gets attention. 

“Women tend toward what we call internalizing disorders,” like depression and anxiety. “Men are more externalizers, so they’re more likely to act out violently or abuse substances or have sort of the louder forms of attentional issues,” she said. “There’s long been that difference between internalizing and externalizing, and I think as men are struggling more, we’re seeing more and more of that externalizing.” 

On the same NPR segment, The Atlantic journalist Faith Hill, who has covered young women’s mental health and identity struggles, described how coverage of men’s loneliness has converged with the current social and political climate in ways that prey on men’s vulnerabilities. 

“When men are struggling, and they are feeling vulnerable and disempowered… it affects women in terms of them being good partners but also just in terms of these larger cultural and political forces in the moment we’re in,” she said. “I think there’s very much a resurgence of misogyny, and part of that is men’s kind of vulnerability being exploited and taken advantage of by some politicians, influencers, and podcasters.”

Multiple forces drive the rising loneliness among men and women, and the impact varies widely across class, geography, age, and more.

Social policy shifts, cultural norms, and economic pressure are a few of the factors driving rising loneliness across genders. “If you think about the items that have risen at rates that really outstrip inflation—so college, health care, child care, home ownership—those are the four biggies that I think leave young women and young men feeling like, what can I do?” Jay said. “I really think that’s what’s underneath a lot of the despair that men are feeling and the desperation that women are feeling.” 

Loneliness rates had already been climbing for years before the COVID-19 pandemic began, but prolonged isolation during COVID, stay-at-home orders, and the loss of daily routines and social structures pushed an existing problem into a full-blown crisis.

Loneliness at a glance during COVID-19:

Religious organizations, clubs, volunteer groups, and associations that once served as community anchors have been declining since the 1970s, the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General report (PDF, 8.4 MB) found. In 2018, only 16% of Americans felt attached to their local community. By 2020, only 47% said they belonged to a church, synagogue, or mosque—a sharp drop from 70% in 1999. 

The effects can be significant: Social groups provide structure, purpose, and a sense of belonging. As these community spaces erode, along with access to public spaces like parks and libraries, people have fewer everyday opportunities to interact with others, which can harm both mental and physical health.

While technology helps people stay connected and find community, especially for those with disabilities and marginalized identities, it can also take a toll. Technology, especially social media, can reduce self-esteem, distract us from having quality time with loved ones, and perpetuate the fear of missing out. 

For example, a study on in-person social interactions paired two people to discuss topics face to face. When either or both participants had their cellphones on the table or in their hands, the quality of the conversation was rated as less fulfilling, with reduced empathetic engagement. 

Another study on social media use and perceived social isolation among young adults found that participants who used social media for more than two hours a day were twice as likely to say they felt socially isolated, compared with those who used it less than 30 minutes a day.

Whether someone feels connected isn’t just a personal matter; it’s shaped by the structure of the communities where they are born, work, learn, and live.

The Surgeon General’s report explains that a strong social connection relies on three core elements:

When any of these elements is missing, the likelihood of loneliness and depression increases. According to a 2025 Pew Research study on social connections and the Surgeon General’s report, the following groups are more likely to say they feel lonely all or most of the time:

This does not mean belonging to one of these groups automatically makes someone lonely or isolated. Rather, the data helps explain the mix of socioeconomic, cultural, and political forces that put some groups at higher risk of feeling alone in the world, and as the research below suggests, those same forces can also serve as part of the antidote.

Even though men and women report similar levels of loneliness, how often and who they turn to for support differ. Pew Research data shows women are more likely than men to turn to a friend (54% vs. 38%) or a mental health professional (22% vs. 16%) for emotional support. However, a more nuanced look into who these men are reveals a more complicated story. 

Closeness in friendship doesn’t break down along race or gender lines; socioeconomic factors are also at play. Sociologist Emily C. Fox’s research re-examining friendship data found that:  

Loneliness can feel like a heavy burden, but there are clear, research-backed ways to improve mental and social health, with small, consistent actions that rebuild connection over time. Here are 10 of the most effective strategies, drawn from the Surgeon General’s advisory on loneliness.

Small, consistent actions compound over time. Set aside a few minutes each day to reach out to a friend or family member, rather than waiting for a connection to happen on its own.

Distraction quietly erodes relationship quality. Put your phone away during meals, important conversations, and family time so the people in front of you get your full attention.

Supporting others, whether that’s helping a coworker, a neighbor, or volunteering in your community, builds the kind of reciprocity that strengthens social bonds over time.

Before engaging with others, it can help to ask: How might kindness change this interaction? What would it look like to treat this person with respect? How can I be of service? These small reframes tend to shape better outcomes for everyone involved.

Showing up for the people in your life and acknowledging when they show up for you makes others more likely to reciprocate, which can often lead to stronger relationships and a deeper sense of social capital.

Relationships with people from different backgrounds and life experiences tend to expand both empathy and understanding, and research links this kind of diverse connection to greater well-being.

Fitness classes, religious communities, professional associations, hobby groups, and community service organizations all create natural opportunities for belonging and shared purpose.

Excessive screen time—especially doom-scrolling through negative news—and time spent in draining relationships negatively affect well-being. Small changes here can make a difference.

If loneliness or isolation starts to feel overwhelming, reach out to a family member, friend, counselor, healthcare provider, or the 988 crisis line.

Significant changes in your social life are worth mentioning at checkups. They help your provider understand the full picture of your health and recommend ways to manage related risks.

Loneliness is shaped by the systems, relationships, and circumstances people are embedded in, which means addressing it takes more than personal willpower. That’s where professional training makes a real difference. Northwestern University’s online counseling program prepares students to understand the full complexity of human connection: not just to recognize when someone is struggling, but to apply evidence-based frameworks like behavioral therapy and core theories of counseling to help. Everyday habits matter, too—even something as simple as sleep hygiene plays a meaningful role in mental health and emotional resilience. Whether you’re personally navigating loneliness or training to help others through it, the path forward starts with taking connection seriously: one relationship, one conversation, and one small act of presence at a time.

Created by Counseling@Northwestern, the online Master of Arts in Counseling program from The Family Institute at Northwestern University.