In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in America. The report emphasizes the importance of social connections — relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and community members — as a key aspect of public health, and notes that “far too many Americans lack social connection in one or more ways.” Loneliness and isolation can have significant physical and mental health impacts, including increased risk for heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.

According to a recent study from the Child Mind Institute, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 parent-child pairs surveyed, four in five named loneliness and social isolation among their top three concerns for youth mental health. Other issues of concern identified by both parents and students included academic pressure, bullying and school safety.

Many adults are lonely, too. Adults 45 and older are increasingly lonely, according to a recent AARP study. The study found that

• Loneliness affects 40% of the 45-plus community today, up five points from 2010 and 2018.
• Men are more likely to be lonely than women (42% vs. 37%), a shift from 2018 (34% vs. 36%).
• Loneliness continues to decrease with age, higher levels of education, and increased household income – as it has in previous years.

Midlife can be a particularly stressful period with “adults in their 40s and 50s facing unique pressures and transitions – such as work, caregiving responsibilities, or shifting social networks – that may heighten feelings of isolation,” the survey report notes.

Remote work may be contributing to loneliness among working adults, according to another recent study. Researchers at New York University (NYU) looked at data from more than 80,000 respondents in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. Working remotely three or more days/week was associated with higher levels of loneliness. Working remotely 1–2 days/week, however, showed no association with loneliness levels.

The authors conclude that the “optimal balance may exist at low-frequency remote work.” They note that working remotely 1 to 2 days a week may offer flexibility without significantly increasing loneliness.

New guidelines to address loneliness

New expert-informed public health guidelines on social connection offer actions for individuals and communities to address loneliness. Experts Daniel P. Aldrich, Ph.D., with Northeastern University, and Kiffer George Card, Ph.D, with Simon Fraser University, who lead the team that created the guidelines, suggest that they can help draw attention and focus action on addressing loneliness as key to health, serving a role similar to nutrition and exercise guidelines. The recommendations include

• Six guidelines for individuals supporting positive outlooks, networks, and mindful tech use.
  • Make social connection a priority throughout your life
  • Cultivate social confidence in yourself and others
  • Build a strong social network with a variety of kinds of relationships
  • Invest in getting enough social connection - Maintain and deepen your relationships with others
  • Seek out face-to-face interactions and use technology wisely
  • Read the full Individual Guidelines for Social Connection)
• Six guidelines for communities, focusing on awareness, inclusion, environments, and measurement. (Read the full Community Guidelines.)

The guidelines were developed by the Social Connection Guideline Development Expert Advisory Group, an international panel of more than 120 experts. The panel included a diverse mix of community members, organizers, non-profit employees, government officials, researchers, educators, healthcare providers, and mental health professionals.

Studies and Reports

• Child Mind Institute: New National Survey Finds Parents and Kids Agree: Loneliness Is the Biggest Threat to Youth Mental Health; full report: 2025 Report: Navigating Mental Health
• AARP: Disconnected: The Escalating Challenge of Loneliness Among Adults 45-Plus
• Journal of Affective Disorders: Remote work and loneliness: Evidence from a nationally representative sample of employed U.S. adults
• Social Connections Guidelines: Social Connection is a Major Drive of Health and Wellbeing
• US Surgeon General: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory (.pdf) on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community