Feeling Alone? Study Warns of Serious Mental and Physical Health Risks
Loneliness is a powerful predictor of depression and deteriorating health, according to a new study published in PLOS One.
The study analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which collects nationwide health-related data via phone surveys. Researchers examined responses from 47,318 non-institutionalized U.S. adults between 2016 and 2023. The participants were predominantly White (73.3%), female (62.1%), and between 18 and 64 years old (72.1%).
The findings were striking: more than 80% of respondents reported experiencing some level of loneliness. Those who described themselves as “Always” lonely had a predicted depression probability of 50.2%, compared to just 9.7% for those who said they were “Never” lonely. Additionally, the “Always” lonely group reported an average of 10.9 more poor mental health days and 5.0 more poor physical health days per month than their non-lonely counterparts.
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