New Cigna Study Reveals Loneliness at Epidemic Levels in America

[de officiis]

New Cigna Study Reveals Loneliness at Epidemic Levels in America

Today, global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) released results from a national survey exploring the impact of loneliness in the United States. The survey, conducted in partnership with market research firm, Ipsos, revealed that most American adults are considered lonely.

The evaluation of loneliness was measured by a score of 43 or higher on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a 20-item questionnaire developed to assess subjective feelings of loneliness, as well as social isolation. The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a frequently referenced and acknowledged academic measure used to gauge loneliness.

The survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults ages 18 years and older revealed some alarming findings:

Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or left out (47 percent).

One in four Americans (27 percent) rarely or never feel as though there are people who really understand them.

Two in five Americans sometimes or always feel that their relationships are not meaningful (43 percent) and that they are isolated from others (43 percent).

One in five people report they rarely or never feel close to people (20 percent) or feel like there are people they can talk to (18 percent).

Americans who live with others are less likely to be lonely (average loneliness score of 43.5) compared to those who live alone (46.4). However, this does not apply to single parents/guardians (average loneliness score of 48.2) – even though they live with children, they are more likely to be lonely.

Only around half of Americans (53 percent) have meaningful in-person social interactions, such as having an extended conversation with a friend or spending quality time with family, on a daily basis.

Generation Z (adults ages 18-22) is the loneliest generation and claims to be in worse health than older generations.

Social media use alone is not a predictor of loneliness; respondents defined as very heavy users of social media have a loneliness score (43.5) that is not markedly different from the score of those who never use social media (41.7).

"We view a person's physical, mental and social health as being entirely connected," said David M. Cordani, president and chief executive officer of Cigna. "It's for this reason that we regularly examine the physical, mental and social needs of our people and the communities they live in. In analyzing this closely, we're seeing a lack of human connection, which ultimately leads to a lack of vitality – or a disconnect between mind and body. We must change this trend by reframing the conversation to be about 'mental wellness' and 'vitality' to speak to our mental-physical connection. When the mind and body are treated as one, we see powerful results."

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 39747.html

[PartyOf5]

The result of Facebook, instagram, etc...

Some people have stopped interacting with many of their friends and family directly and prefer to just post their lives on FB. The ones that are lonely are either the ones who don't use social media and have been left alone by those who use it as their preferred method of communication or those that "lurk" FB and feel like their life sucks when compared to how great the FB lives appear.

We are quickly transforming how we communicate and interact with each other. I'm not sure if it's better, worse, or just different. Some of those caught in the transition will find it difficult to deal with.

[DBTrek]

Americans seem to find every-damn-thing “difficult to deal with” lately.

Never miss an opportunity to be a victim of something - 21st century American creedo.

[Speaker to Animals]

It's actually a result of the demographic invasion (multiculturalism results in alienation, isolation, and low-trust societies).

[nmoore63]

It's actually a result of the demographic invasion (multiculturalism results in alienation, isolation, and low-trust societies).

No its not.

[SilverEagle]

It's actually a result of the demographic invasion (multiculturalism results in alienation, isolation, and low-trust societies).

I agree with that.

[nmoore63]

It's actually a result of the demographic invasion (multiculturalism results in alienation, isolation, and low-trust societies).

I agree with that.

Elaborate.

[MilSpecs]

It's actually a result of the demographic invasion (multiculturalism results in alienation, isolation, and low-trust societies).

Bullshit. Either you're going to put yourself out there to interact with other humans or you're not. Reaching out requires a level of bravery that a lot of people don't have. That means those who are more outgoing have a job to do.

[BjornP]

Americans seem to find every-damn-thing “difficult to deal with” lately.

Never miss an opportunity to be a victim of something - 21st century American creedo.

Not seeing how the OP story fits in with the victimhood culture mentality problem. After all, where is anyone assigning an aggressor/oppressor/"privileged person or group X" that's victimizing those who feel alone? Or saying they're all helpless for that matter?

Plenty of real victimhood culture mentality to go around. This isn't looking like that. Not all reports of someone saying they don't feel content in life means that they're "really" saying that they blame someone else for that.

[DBTrek]

Take your “Epic Lonliness” study to any generation WW2 or before and ask them where the victimhood is.
I know it’s not apparent to your generation, any more than water is apparent to a fish.