New Survey Reveals: Only 17% of Young Americans Feel Deep Social Connections

America has a loneliness problem, and it's affecting younger generations at alarming rates.

Just 17% of U.S. adults under the age of 30 report feeling "deeply connected to at least one community," according to a recent poll from The Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. The survey polled 2,096 Americans throughout the country between the ages of 18 and 29 years old.

Less than half of young Americans polled feel that they have a sense of community anywhere. And almost 1 in 3 are still searching for a sense of belonging or feel they just don't have one.

The cause of this loneliness epidemic isn't easy to pinpoint, experts say. Some people blame social media for the high levels of isolation, and others believe it's a systemic issue and has more to do with concerns about the state of the future.

"This is a generation that's weathered pandemic isolation during formative years, entered an unstable economy, and faced skyrocketing housing and education costs — all while being told they're not resilient enough," said John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Institute of Politics, in the survey's release.

Although the source of the problem isn't obvious, experts like Kasley Killam , a Harvard-trained social scientist, are offering solutions on how to increase feelings of social connectedness.

In Killam's " The Art and Science of Connection ," she suggests the 5-3-1 guideline, a research-backed method for maintaining social fitness.

Similar to getting your 10,000 steps in for physical fitness, here's how you can practice Killam's social workout plan.

Try this social workout plan to feel socially connected

"The 5-3-1 guideline is meant to be like a reference point for people," Killam told The News PulseMake It in June of 2024.

To follow the guideline, you should:

• Connect with five different people every week
• Keep up at least three intimate connections
• Spend one hour of meaningful engagement every day each day.

The figures could be higher or lower depending on the individual," Killam stated. "However, based on studies about the quantity of time and connections successful individuals maintain, these numbers serve as an excellent foundation.

An ongoing famous study from Harvard, which has been active for 87 years, has followed over 700 individuals' health data with the aim of identifying factors contributing to a lengthy, fulfilling life. The top finding from this research indicated that The most joyful individuals with extended lifespans maintain upbeat connections. and maintain social fitness.

Social fitness entails developing robust interpersonal connections that are well-balanced, as stated. Marc Schulz and Robert Waldinger , directors of the Study of Adult Development at Harvard .

Schulz and Waldinger propose maintaining distinct friendships for various aspects of life. It’s best to have one or multiple individuals who can assist you in developing each of these domains:

• Safety and security
• Learning and growth
• Emotional closeness and confiding
• Romantic intimacy
• Affirmation of identity and common experiences
• Help (informational and practical)
• Fun and relaxation

And don’t allow fear to prevent you from reaching out to others to grow closer to them or to connect with new individuals, they advised. a piece they authored for Make It in February of 2023.

No matter if it’s a sincere query or a period of focused consideration, it’s always possible to strengthen the bonds that mean something to you.

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