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.

The study also found that women consistently reported higher rates of depression and poorer mental health than men at all levels of loneliness. Interestingly, Black individuals had lower probabilities of depression and fewer poor mental health days than White individuals across all loneliness levels.

The authors advocate for integrating loneliness screening into routine healthcare visits and designing social support interventions to target those most at risk.

The authors said, “Our study highlights that loneliness is not just an emotional state it has measurable consequences for both mental and physical health.”

“Addressing loneliness may be a critical public health priority to reduce depression and improve overall well-being.”

Reference: Akinyemi, O., Abdulrazaq, W., Fasokun, M., Ogunyankin, F., Ikugbayigbe, S., Nwosu, U., ... & Ogundare, T. (2025). The Impact of Loneliness on Depression, Mental Health Days, and Physical Health. medRxiv, 2025-02.