Many Americans are lonely

Data for the report was taken from two surveys from Evernorth Research Institute, one of which was conducted with Morning Consult and the other with YouGov. The surveys were conducted between May 29 and June 14, 2024, and included responses from over 7,500 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.

Overall, around 52% of respondents reported struggling with loneliness, with those from younger generations experiencing higher levels of loneliness. Gen Z reported the highest level of loneliness at 67%, while baby boomers reported the lowest level at 44%.

However, the report found that loneliness had a greater impact on older generations, with baby boomers seeing a larger decrease in vitality scores due to loneliness. 

Older adults are also more likely to report mental health challenges when they're lonely. For example, lonely Gen Xers rate their mental health an average of 30 points lower and their incidence of depression or anxiety as 23 points higher than those who are not lonely. Similarly, only 34% of lonely baby boomers said they have very good or excellent mental health compared to 73% who are not lonely.

The report also evaluated loneliness among unpaid caregivers, including parents of young children and those caring for older or disabled family members. Sixty-two percent of unpaid caregivers reported feelings of loneliness, with younger caregivers (ages 18 to 34) reporting the highest rates of loneliness at 72%.

How to combat loneliness in the workplace

According to the report, loneliness can also negatively impact people's job satisfaction and engagement at work, which can lead to increased turnover, absenteeism, and health issues.

Workers who are lonely are more likely to feel like they are mentally somewhere else while at work, miss at least one day of work a month, and want to find a new job. In comparison, workers who are not lonely are more likely to say that they are willing to work harder to help their company succeed.

To help workers feel less isolated and more connected, employers should:

Support and model work-life balance

According to the report, 20% of workers who are lonely report high vitality when they feel their employers support a healthy work-life balance. However, this drops to a mere 2% when workers feel like they don't have the support.

Employers should encourage their staff to take time off and be respectful of that time away from work. Leaders can also talk to their team members about prioritizing work-life balance so they can feel more comfortable doing the same.

Create a culture of inclusion

People who are lonely are more likely to report feeling like they don't belong even when they have other people in their lives. Employee resource groups, team building activities, and virtual coffee breaks are all ways to help employees foster camaraderie and strengthen their social connections.

Build genuine relationships with team members

"Empathetic leadership is crucial," the report wrote. Workers who feel lonely but feel understood by their managers are more likely to report high vitality compared to those who feel misunderstood (19% vs. 8%, respectively).

Having regular check-in calls, sharing personal stories and experiences, and helping to facilitate connections with different colleagues can help leaders build relationships with their team.

Identify any risk factors for loneliness

Some risk factors for loneliness to watch out for include:

• An inability to connect with others on a deep level
• Stating that no one understands them
• A lack of close friends
• Expressing negative thoughts, including self-doubt and questioning their self-worth

Reduce stigma around mental health issues

"Lead with compassion and reassure people that it's normal to feel alone, especially in the face of challenging situations and life events," the report wrote. Talking about what has helped you through mental health challenges or sharing mental health resources can also be helpful.

Encourage prosocial behavior

Prosocial behavior means taking action to help someone else, and it has been linked to higher vitality. Volunteering, helping a neighbor, and engaging in community service are all ways to demonstrate prosocial behavior. It can also improve your mental and physical health and help reduce some of the negative effects of loneliness.

"By recognizing distinct differences and common threads in how loneliness tends to manifest across groups, we can identify and implement the buffers to loneliness," the report wrote. "When we work together to address loneliness and foster a sense of belonging, we create an environment where individuals, employers, and communities achieve better health and vitality."