In its December 17, 2024 “Combating Loneliness Act” the United States Congress finds:
(1) 36 percent of individuals in the United States report serious loneliness.
(2) 61 percent of young adults and over 50 percent of mothers with young children in the United States report serious loneliness.
(3) 61 percent of disabled individuals in the United States experience chronic loneliness, with an even higher prevalence of 70 percent among young disabled people in the United States.
(4) LGBTQI+ youth, particularly transgender and Black individuals, experience higher levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety than their straight or cisgender counterparts.
(5) Black individuals, Indigenous individuals, and individuals of color are disproportionately affected by social loneliness and isolation, with 75 percent of Latinx and Hispanic adults and 68 percent of Black and African American adults categorized as lonely.
(6) Due to fragmented social networks, loneliness is especially pervasive with people experiencing homelessness, with 1 in 5 reporting to have no friends.
(7) Farmers and agricultural workers, predominantly based in rural areas, face heightened risks to mental well-being due to social and geographical isolation.
(8) Older adults face heightened vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation due to factors including living alone, loss of familial and social ties, chronic illness, and impaired hearing.
(9) Elderly individuals are increasingly affected by homelessness and loneliness as their social circles shrink, lifespans increase, and economic challenges grow, making them one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population.
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