If you are, you might take some small comfort in knowing that you are not alone. A new report finds many Americans are lonely. The study, published by the global health service company Cigna, found that 46 percent of U.S. adults report chronic feelings of loneliness, being disconnected, and feeling as though they were being left out. Cigna calls those “epidemic levels.”

What’s more, only around half of Americans say they have meaningful in-person social interactions on a daily basis, such as having an extended conversation with a friend or spending time with family members.
A number of well documented studies have concluded that loneliness is connected to a number of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease and depression. It may play a role in substance abuse and can diminish overall quality of life. Some studies have even found that loneliness and social isolation may lead to an early death.

This reminds me of what God said of Adam, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) To one degree or another we all want to be known and accepted and to feel that we belong. We want to be part of a crew! We want to have people in our lives who get us, like us, and who will miss us when we’re not around.