The Loneliness Epidemic: A Men’s Health Crisis
Loneliness is a universal emotion, oftentimes a temporary one. However, in the context of modern society, it has become a widespread and pervasive issue. When the US Surgeon General declared it an epidemic, it prompted me to reflect on the relationship between loneliness, health, and traditional notions of masculinity.
The Surgeon General’s advisory defines loneliness as “a subjective distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connections, where inadequate refers to the discrepancy or unmet need between an individual’s preferred and actual experience.”
Over time, loneliness has been on the rise among men. In 2021, a staggering 15% of men reported having zero close friends, a stark increase from a mere 3% in 1990. With the social stigma around loneliness and in a society where men are socialized to embrace stoicism and self-reliance, it would not be surprising if the actual figures were higher.
The barriers imposed by traditional masculinity play a pivotal role in the loneliness epidemic. From early childhood, boys are taught to believe that embracing vulnerability is synonymous with weakness and that seeking help when needed contradicts the self-reliance associated with the traditional male archetype. Men are less likely to seek therapy than women, as a result. These socialization practices prevent men from reaching out for help when they need it, exacerbating their loneliness.
Chronic loneliness results in poor physical and mental health outcomes. The Surgeon General’s advisory lists cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, infectious disease, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, suicidality, and self-harm as negative health outcomes due to loneliness and social isolation. The advisory even reports that lack of social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, when comparing mortality rates.
Tackling the loneliness epidemic is of paramount importance. While there are community-level steps to take such as strengthening social infrastructure in local communities and cultivating a culture of connection, there are also individual-level steps to combat loneliness.
The advisory shares the following action steps that you can take now:
Understand the power of social connection and the consequences of social disconnection.
Invest time in nurturing your relationships.
Minimize distraction during conversation to increase the quality of the time you spend with others.
Seek opportunities to serve and support others.
Be responsive, supportive, and practice gratitude.
Actively engage with people of different backgrounds and experiences.
Participate in social and community groups, such as men’s support groups.
Reduce practices that lead to feelings of disconnection from others such as excessive social media use or time spent with unhealthy relationships.
Seek help during times of struggle such as talking to a friend or counselor.
Be open with your health care provider.
Make time for civic engagement such as attending social gatherings.
For more information, check out the advisory titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.