loneliness as a public health problem

from the CDC: 

What is already known about this topic? 

 Loneliness and lack of social connection are widespread and pose a threat to mental and physical health. 

 What is added by this report? 

 In 2022, the prevalence of feeling lonely always, usually, or sometimes among adults in 26 U.S. states was highest for bisexual (56.7%) and transgender persons (range = 56.4%–63.9%); these groups also reported the highest prevalence of stress, frequent mental distress, and history of depression (range = 34.3%–67.2%).

 Prevalence of lack of social and emotional support was elevated among transgender adults. 

 What are the implications for public health practice? ''

Addressing the threat to mental health among sexual and gender minority groups should include consideration of loneliness and lack of social and emotional support.

Overall prevalence estimates were 32.1% for loneliness and 24.1% for lack of social and emotional support (Table 2). 

Within the corresponding demographic categories, prevalences of loneliness and lack of social and emotional support were respectively highest among those aged 18–34 years (43.3% and 29.7%), those with less than a high school education (41.1% and 36.3%), those who never married (45.9% and 34.7%), and those with household income below $25,000 (47.9% and 39.8%); prevalences were lowest among non-Hispanic White adults (29.6% and 20.1%) and those who had two adults living in a household (27.4% and 19.1%). 

Loneliness was significantly more common among women than among men (33.5% versus 30.7%), whereas lack of social and emotional support was more common among men than among women (22.3% versus 26.1%). '

The prevalence of loneliness was significantly higher among adults who identified as gay (41.2%), lesbian (44.8%), bisexual (56.7%), or something other than gay, lesbian, bisexual, or straight (50.7%), than among those who identified as straight (30.3%). 

Loneliness was significantly higher among adults who were transgender female (56.4%), transgender male (62.6%), or transgender gender nonconforming (63.9%), than among those who were cisgender (32.1%). 

Lack of social and emotional support was significantly more prevalent among adults who identified as gay (29.0%), bisexual (36.5%) and something other than gay, lesbian, bisexual, or straight (39.3%), than among those who identified as straight (22.8%); prevalence among adults who were transgender female (44.8%), transgender male (34.4%), or transgender gender nonconforming (41.4%) was significantly greater than among those who were cisgender (23.8%).