Survey: Nearly Two-Thirds of Adults Report Feeling Lonely

Cigna's 2020 Loneliness Index estimates that 61 percent of more than 10,000 polled adult U.S. workers feel lonely — more than five times as many in 2018, reports the Leader-Telegram . "The trends shaping how we work — increasing use of technology, more telecommuting, and the always-on work culture — are leaving Americans more stressed, less rested, spending more time on social media, and less time with friends and family," said Cigna CEO David Cordani. A 2018 study by Brigham Young University researchers found socially isolated people have a 29 percent higher risk of mortality. Older adults are especially prone to social isolation, with retirement a potential contributing factor. According to AARP, 17 percent of older Americans experience some level of isolation.