{"id":3584,"date":"2023-11-01T10:27:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T14:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/?p=3584"},"modified":"2023-11-01T10:27:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T14:27:10","slug":"new-gallup-poll-reveals-that-more-than-a-billion-people-struggle-with-loneliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/2023\/11\/new-gallup-poll-reveals-that-more-than-a-billion-people-struggle-with-loneliness.html","title":{"rendered":"New Gallup Poll Reveals That More Than a Billion People Struggle With Loneliness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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According to a new survey from Meta and Gallup, more than a billion people, or close to a quarter of the world\u2019s population, are struggling with loneliness. Younger adults are more likely to suffer from the condition, which health experts warn can have the same effect on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.<\/p>\n

The survey was conducted in 142 areas and countries worldwide, excluding China, the second-most populated country in the world. Researchers think that the rate of loneliness could likely be higher. Ellyn Maese, a senior research consultant with Gallup, noted, \u201cIn countries all over the world, millions of people experience loneliness in their daily lives. Research shows that loneliness is associated with elevated risk for a wide range of physical and mental health conditions, making research on loneliness a critical first step to improving health and wellbeing worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

The data suggests older adults, people 65 and older, reported the lowest incidence of loneliness, with just 17 percent saying they were feeling \u201cvery\u201d or \u201cfairly\u201d lonely. Among young adults aged 19 to 29, however, 27 percent of respondents reported feeling very or somewhat lonely. Maese said, \u201cAlthough many calls to reduce loneliness are focused on older adults, majorities of those aged 45 and older do not feel lonely at all, while less than half of those younger than 45 say the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued, \u201cOverall, these global data show that a quarter of people report feeling very or fairly lonely, with older adults the least likely to report feelings of loneliness. Understanding differences in how people experience or do not experience loneliness across the globe can lead to new avenues for mitigating loneliness and improving social wellbeing in communities everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n