Staying social has always been important for health, but the global COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how damaging social isolation can be. In the past few years, we’ve seen how harmful loneliness can be, and how it can impact a person’s emotional well-being.

As those qualified through PMHNP online programs know, loneliness is a key contributing factor to many mental health conditions. These include depression, anxiety, chronic stress, sleeping disorders, and more.

Loneliness and the mental health conditions it can cause can also greatly impact physical health and overall well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other physical conditions.

Loneliness can impact anyone, and it can also vary from person to person—but the effects can be profound and wide-ranging. Loneliness is also considered to be one of the largest public health challenges the United States and the rest of the world is facing.

Defining loneliness

Psychology Today defines loneliness as “a state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one’s desires for social connection and actual experiences of it.” 

Feelings of loneliness can occur in situations even when they’re surrounded by people and loved ones. Loneliness comes from a place where someone feels like their inherent needs for intimacy and companionship aren’t met.

A paper, Loneliness: A disease?, by Sarvada Chandra Tiwari suggests that loneliness should be treated as a disease, not just as a symptom or cause of mental illness.

Types of loneliness

There are many types and forms of loneliness, categorized by what causes it and how it impacts the individual. Below, we’ve outlined the most common types of loneliness.

• Emotional loneliness: This type describes the form of loneliness that arises from the absence of a close emotional bond or intimate relationship. For example, if someone feels like they lack a significant partner or close friend, it may be emotional loneliness.
• Social loneliness: Social loneliness is when an individual feels like they’re isolated in a broader sense, from their social network. For instance, they might feel isolated and disconnected from their friends or colleagues.
• Existential loneliness: This type refers to when someone feels a deeper, philosophical sense of loneliness, tied into existentialism. They feel like they’re fundamentally disconnected from the world and people around them.
• Transient loneliness: This type of loneliness describes when an individual gets lonely due to a change in routine or an event. Transient loneliness is often short-term and resolves itself when social contact is re-established.
• Chronic loneliness: As the name suggests, chronic loneliness is long-term, and persists even when the person is socializing and in communities/groups. This form of loneliness is typically caused by deeper issues, like mental health.
• Situational loneliness: This type of loneliness comes from the individual’s circumstances. For example, moving to a new city or starting a new job.

Loneliness in the U.S.

America is facing a loneliness epidemic, with the number of people feeling a lack of connection rising. This is a growing concern, as loneliness can increase the risk of premature death, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General.

The latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) reveals that, from results in early 2024, 30% of adults say they have felt experiences of loneliness at least once a week for the past year.

10% of the adults said they were lonely every day. The findings also highlighted that younger people seemed more likely to experience feelings of loneliness. Loneliness has become a widespread public health concern in the country, and only growing worse.

These findings support that one in three people in America experiences loneliness regularly. Other statistics on loneliness in the United States include:

• Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Denver are ranked as the three loneliest cities in the U.S.. Statistics report that the number of people experiencing loneliness in those cities is 3x higher than the national average.
• Data reports that Wyoming is the loneliest state of all per capita, followed by Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and Delaware.
• 57% of Americans report eating all their meals alone.
• 58% of Americans reported that they sometimes or always feel like no one knows them well.

COVID-19 and loneliness

COVID-19 was indisputably a threat to public health around the globe, having long-lasting consequences on daily habits, how people interact, and industries. It has also had a massive impact on social isolation and loneliness.

The pandemic resulted in indefinite lockdowns, social isolation, canceling of public events, and other social distancing rules, which all contributed to increasing levels of loneliness.

In addition to the growing levels of loneliness during the pandemic—as people were locked in homes and couldn’t socialize traditionally—people weren’t equipped to deal with the sudden changes due to the pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared loneliness to be a pressing global health threat. Especially as loneliness can contribute to increasing the risk of other conditions, like developing dementia and strokes.

How loneliness affects mental health

Loneliness is deeply linked with mental health. It can be a symptom of mental health conditions, like depression, and it can also have a detrimental impact on a person’s emotional well-being, increasing the likelihood of a mental illness.

Loneliness can often lead to increased anxiety, especially in social situations. When someone is socially isolated for long periods of time, they’re more likely to be concerned about fearing rejection or judgment.

Loneliness also increases the risk of developing depression. The absence of social support systems can contribute to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of motivation. Loneliness can also contribute to or increase the risk factors for:

• Loneliness can contribute to stress
• A lack of socialization can negatively impact self-esteem
• Loneliness can lead to substance abuse
• Loneliness can lead to lower sleep quality and sleeping disorders
• Chronic loneliness has been linked to cognitive decline and dementia

How to combat loneliness

Humans, like many animals, are social creatures. While it is normal to feel lonely sometimes, actively socializing, having close relationships, and being in communities are integral for emotional well-being and physical health.

In scenarios of chronic loneliness, it can be a trigger for anxiety and depression, increase risk factors for heart disease, and even spike stress levels. Fortunately, loneliness can be managed and there are strategies you can follow.

• Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If you find that your feelings of loneliness are getting too hard to handle, mental health professionals can help.
• Keep up with friends and family, no matter how far away they live. Even if you can’t spend time with someone in person, still make an effort to stay in touch virtually.
• If you’re experiencing situational loneliness, like moving to a new city, look for groups or communities to join.
• Online platforms can be a great way to meet new, like-minded people.

Most of all, when experiencing feelings of loneliness—self-care is important. You can see it as an opportunity to grow comfortable spending time alone and recharge your social batteries.