The pandemic isolated us and remote work confined us to talking through screens. We lost some of the spontaneous interactions with strangers, like the local breakfast vendor or workplace concierge who made us feel appreciative—even alive. So it’s no surprise that experts say we're facing an epidemic of loneliness. A report this year examined which states are the most lonely—and the factors that contribute to loneliness. Maine topped the list as the loneliest state, followed by Florida and then Ohio, according to the research from AgingInPlace. Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii rolled in as the least lonely states.
A Harvard study from last year found that 36% of Americans feel “serious loneliness,” but that number rose to more than 50% among young adults and mothers of young children. Another report found over a third of those 45 and older feel lonely as older Americans are more susceptible to the risk factors of loneliness like retirement, living alone, chronic illnesses, and the loss of loved ones, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
