1 in 5 U.S. Adults Say They Feel Loneliness on a Daily Basis: Report

This is the highest rate of loneliness reported in the past two years

One in five adults reports feeling lonely on a daily basis, according to a new Gallup survey.

The survey — part of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index — found that 20% of adults in the United States feel loneliness “a lot of the day yesterday,” a rise from data collected earlier this year. This is the highest rate of loneliness reported in the past two years.

However, the new data is still lower than the peak of 25% of adults who felt lonely during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021.

Although researchers did not ask why people are feeling this level of loneliness, Dan Witters — research director of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being index — told ABC News that one reason may be because “these are divided times.”

“As we get closer to the election, that's going to drive people indoors to avoid areas of conflict,” he told the outlet.

Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University School of Medicine, added that the pandemic likely made people more vulnerable to isolation.

“There are a lot of aspects of our lives during COVID that became a bit more normalized by tending toward more virtual workspaces,” she said. “Even though there has been a return to work, there are still certain aspects that still have not returned to normal.”

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Related: Surgeon General Says Loneliness Is as Bad as Smoking for Premature Death

Psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma told CBS Mornings that loneliness is "a medical problem" that should be taken "very seriously."

"It's the equivalent of having somebody smoke 15 cigarettes per day, and we know that it affects our mind and our body,” she explained. “It predisposes us to anxiety and depression. It increases our risk by 30% for heart disease, for stroke, 50% for dementia, and 60% for premature mortality.”

In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murphy declared loneliness and social isolation a public health epidemic. In an advisory notice, he called for individuals "to build more connected lives and a more connected society because of the mortality impact of being socially disconnected.

"Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling," he said at the time. "It harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death."

Murphy called for individuals to "take small steps" daily to strengthen their relationships to combat this.

"We can build lives and communities that are healthier and happier. And we can ensure our country and the world are better poised than ever to take on the challenges that lay ahead," he explained.

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