 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.(July 2024) |
The friendship recession is a decline in the number of friends people have in Canada and the United States. The decline first began in the late 20th century. This phenomenon is theorized to have a wide range of impacts on mental and physical health. [1]
Surveys show that the number of close friends people have on average has decreased. Those who state they have 10+ close friends, excluding family members, was 33% in 1990, but has now decreased to 13% in 2021. [2] Men seem more affected. The number of American men without a close friend has jumped five times since 1995, from 3% to 15% between 1990 and 2021. [3]
Canadian seniors can often feel more lonely than the general population. Ageism, the community environment and dementia can put them more at risk. [4]
Social isolation significantly increases a person's risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival that of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. It also creates a higher likelihood of becoming depressed or anxious, or committing suicide. [5] One study in Germany showed that having several friends is correlated with fewer worries about the economy and higher life satisfaction. [6]
Those without friends are more likely to feel lonely. Chronic loneliness is linked to poorer sleep and increases the odds of cardiovascular disease as much as smoking 15 cigarettes per day would. This may be because people who are chronically lonely develop long-term "fight-or-flight" stress signaling, which negatively affects immune system functioning, leading to less immunity and more inflammation. [7]
Finally, in a study evaluating 99 countries, it was found that those who prioritize friendships tend to be happier, especially if they are women, older people, less educated or people of an individualistic culture. Friendships becoming less prioritized in North America may mean that the friendship recession is causing a decrease in happiness for the average citizen. [8] [9]
Some cite bad urban planning practices as a cause of the friendship recession because it has led to the destruction of inexpensive third places to meet new people or to socialize with people one already knows. Poor city design has also led to the proliferation of car dependency, suburbia and urban sprawl, which make meeting with existing friends more time-consuming, expensive and difficult while also reducing the likelihood that one will talk to strangers. [10] [11]
Some cite economic factors. Because the value of wages have stagnated since the late 20th century, precarious work is on the rise and people receive fewer job benefits, people may often choose to focus on work or school more instead of investing time in friendships. [12]
Culture may also play a role in creating destructive expectations, for example, the idea that friendships need to be forever, or that occasional conflicts are not ok, or that there is an ideal form of friendship, or that friends should simply know what their friend needs without being told are all false and can harm existing friendships. [13]
Some believe the rise of workism, the belief that work is the most important aspect of life and the source of identity and meaning, is a factor. Workism, on top of creating of culture of competition, stress and burnout, can make people prioritize their careers over their personal relationships and hobbies. [14]
Many believe increased technology and social media usage is a culprit as there are links between heavy social media and internet use and fewer friends and time spent with others. It is thought that time spent interacting with others online or passively consuming content is of lower quality than time spent with others in person. [15] [16]
Finally, some believe the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected friendships negatively. Due to lockdowns, social distancing, and health risks, people were forced to limit their physical contact with their friends and could have lost touch. However, data on the subject is limited and mixed as the pandemic affected different groups of people differently. [17] Some people may have strengthened their friendships by sharing their vulnerabilities or by cutting out peripheral and superficial relationships. [18]
One study found that believing that friendship happens based on luck was related to more loneliness five years later, whereas believing that friendship takes effort was related to less loneliness. [19]
An internet relationship is a relationship between people who have met online, and in many cases know each other only via the Internet. Online relationships are similar in many ways to pen pal relationships. This relationship can be romantic, platonic, or even based on business affairs. An internet relationship is generally sustained for a certain amount of time before being titled a relationship, just as in-person relationships. The major difference here is that an internet relationship is sustained via computer or online service, and the individuals in the relationship may or may not ever meet each other in person. Otherwise, the term is quite broad and can include relationships based upon text, video, audio, or even virtual character. This relationship can be between people in different regions, different countries, different sides of the world, or even people who reside in the same area but do not communicate in person.
Solitude, also known as social withdrawal, is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think, or rest without disturbance. It may be desired for the sake of privacy. Long-term solitude may stem from soured relationships, loss of loved ones, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders such as circadian rhythm sleep disorder, or circumstances of employment or situation.
An intimate relationship is an interpersonal relationship that involves emotional or physical closeness between people and may include sexual intimacy and feelings of romance or love. Intimate relationships are interdependent, and the members of the relationship mutually influence each other. The quality and nature of the relationship depends on the interactions between individuals, and is derived from the unique context and history that builds between people over time. Social and legal institutions such as marriage acknowledge and uphold intimate relationships between people. However, intimate relationships are not necessarily monogamous or sexual, and there is wide social and cultural variability in the norms and practices of intimacy between people.
Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain – a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with a perceived lack of connection and intimacy. Loneliness overlaps and yet is distinct from solitude. Solitude is simply the state of being apart from others; not everyone who experiences solitude feels lonely. As a subjective emotion, loneliness can be felt even when a person is surrounded by other people. Hence, there is a distinction between being alone and feeling lonely. Loneliness can be short term or long term. In either case, it can be intense and painful.
Self-disclosure is a process of communication by which one person reveals information about themselves to another. The information can be descriptive or evaluative, and can include thoughts, feelings, aspirations, goals, failures, successes, fears, and dreams, as well as one's likes, dislikes, and favorites.
Emotional isolation is a state of isolation where one may have a well-functioning social network but still feels emotionally separated from others.
A cross-sex friendship is a platonic relationship between two unrelated people of differing sexes or gender. There are multiple types of cross-sex friendships, all defined by whether or not each party has a romantic attraction to each other, or perceives that the other is interested. A few theories have been developed to explain the existence of such friendships. Research has been done on why men and women initiate these relationships, how they are perceived by others, implications for children with cross-sex friendships, among others. Cross-sex friendships can also create problems for those involved if either or both have or ever had any romantic feelings for the other.
Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society. It differs from loneliness, which reflects temporary and involuntary lack of contact with other humans in the world. Social isolation can be an issue for individuals of any age, though symptoms may differ by age group.
Optimism bias is a cognitive bias that causes someone to believe that they themselves are less likely to experience a negative event. It is also known as delusional optimism, unrealistic optimism or comparative optimism.
Social connection is the experience of feeling close and connected to others. It involves feeling loved, cared for, and valued, and forms the basis of interpersonal relationships.
"Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship." —Brené Brown, Professor of social work at the University of Houston
Belongingness is the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group. Whether it is family, friends, co-workers, a religion, or something else, some people tend to have an 'inherent' desire to belong and be an important part of something greater than themselves. This implies a relationship that is greater than simple acquaintance or familiarity.
Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an "acquaintance" or an "association", such as a classmate, neighbor, coworker, or colleague.
Consequential strangers are personal connections other than family and close friends. Also known as "peripheral" or "weak" ties, they lie in the broad social territory between strangers and intimates. The term was coined by Karen L. Fingerman and further developed by Melinda Blau, who collaborated with the psychologist to explore and popularize the concept.
Asociality refers to the lack of motivation to engage in social interaction, or a preference for solitary activities. Asociality may be associated with avolition, but it can, moreover, be a manifestation of limited opportunities for social relationships. Developmental psychologists use the synonyms nonsocial, unsocial, and social uninterest. Asociality is distinct from, but not mutually exclusive to, anti-social behavior. A degree of asociality is routinely observed in introverts, while extreme asociality is observed in people with a variety of clinical conditions.
Discrimination against autistic people involves any form of discrimination, persecution, or oppression against people who are autistic. Discrimination against autistic people is a form of ableism.
Geriatric psychology is a subfield of psychology that specializes in the mental and physical health of individuals in the later stages of life. These specialized psychologists study a variety of psychological abilities that deplete as aging occurs such as memory, learning capabilities, and coordination. Geriatric psychologists work with elderly clients to conduct the diagnosis, study, and treatment of certain mental illnesses in a variety of workplace settings. Common areas of practice include loneliness in old age, depression, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Parkinson's disease.
James Arthur Coan, Jr. is an American affective neuroscientist, clinical psychologist, writer, podcast host, human rights activist, and psychology professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he serves as director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory.
There is empirical evidence of the causal impact of social relationships on health. The social support theory suggests that relationships might promote health especially by promoting adaptive behavior or regulating the stress response. Troubled relationships as well as loneliness and social exclusion may have negative consequences on health. Neurosciences of health investigate the neuronal circuits implicated in the context of both social connection and disconnection.
Existential isolation is the subjective feeling that every human life experience is essentially unique and can be understood only by themselves, creating a gap between a person and other individuals, as well as the rest of the world. Existential isolation falls under existentialism. It was addressed by Martin Heidegger in his book Being and Time (1927) and further explored by Irvin Yalom in his book Existential Psychotherapy (1980). Yalom defined existential isolation as one of three forms of isolation, the other two being intra- and interpersonal isolation. Unlike the other forms, one cannot overcome existential isolation as the gap that separates individuals existentially can never be closed. While every person can experience existential isolation, not everyone might actually feel existentially isolated. Those who do may feel a weaker connection to other individuals and question their beliefs and understanding of the world as they lack social validation.