Alright, here’s a story that hits close to home for a lot of people. A new AARP report says loneliness in America is rising, and it’s not just an “older folks” issue anymore.
The study looked at adults 45 and up and found that 40% of them are considered lonely — that’s up from 35% just a few years ago. And here’s the twist: the younger people in that group — folks in their 40s and 50s — are actually the loneliest.
Almost half of them scored as lonely on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Yes, there’s an actual scale for loneliness. No, you can’t swipe right to fix it.
Even more interesting: men are reporting loneliness at higher levels than women — 42% of men, compared to 37% of women. So guys, it’s officially okay to admit you’re lonely… not just pretend you’re “busy.”
Another problem? People are disconnecting from community life.
Religious service attendance is down. Volunteering is down. Community groups — also down. Basically, we’ve replaced “seeing people” with “scrolling past people.”
And when lonely adults try to deal with it, most turn to “solo solutions” like internet browsing or social media scrolling — instead of actually meeting up with friends or family. Which, let’s be honest, explains a LOT about those 3 a.m. online shopping decisions.
What’s even trickier is that a bunch of people who meet the criteria for loneliness don’t think they’re lonely — or at least won’t say it out loud. Which means the problem’s growing underneath the surface.
The bottom line? We’re more connected than ever… but somehow still feeling more alone. A friendly reminder to check on your people — and maybe even meet up in person. Yes, outside. With other humans. It’s still allowed.
Source: Newser
