What is loneliness?
Loneliness is the gap between our actual level of social connection and our desired level of connection. Someone can experience the social isolation of loneliness even in a crowded room, and conversely, individuals may be objectively isolated but enjoy being alone. Many of us do say we’re lonely: 1 in 5 Americans told Gallup in 2024 that they felt lonely for “a lot of the day yesterday.”
In 2023, the then-US surgeon general proclaimed that loneliness is a health threat on par with smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily. The report concluded that the stress of loneliness can trigger the body to be on high alert, leading to health complications, including higher blood pressure and inflammation. Loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 26% and boosts the risks of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, and depression.
Volunteering can be one way to combat loneliness. Feeling like you have something to offer, are appreciated, and spending time with other like-minded people with a shared sense of purpose can be very satisfying—whether it’s cleaning up neighborhood trash, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or tutoring students.
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