GenX Lonlieness

The U.S. Surgeon General officially issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on loneliness and social isolation in May 2023, declaring the loneliness epidemic a national public health concern. HHS Read More Here

• A recent study tracking over 53,000 adults aged 45–65 revealed that Generation X in the U.S. reports significantly higher levels of loneliness than peers across Europe. Read More Here
   
• Middle-aged Americans also report higher loneliness than European counterparts, likely due to weaker social safety nets. APA Read More Here

• Contrary to common belief, loneliness in U.S. adults peaks in midlife, not old age. Gen‑X adults are experiencing vulnerability that older generations may have avoided. Emory University Read More Here
   
• In the U.S., unlike many other countries, middle-aged individuals are lonelier than both younger and older groups. Emory University Read More Here

• A generational survey found that 59 % of Gen‑X adults report feelings of loneliness, second only to Gen Z (71 %) and higher than Millennials (65 %) and Boomers (44 %). The Cigna Group Read More Here
   
• Another study noted that 16% of Gen‑Xers say they have no friends, highlighting a deepening friendship recession.  Very Well Mind Read More Here

• Loneliness in midlife correlates with elevated risks of heart disease, inflammation, cognitive decline, stroke, dementia, and early mortality. NIH Read More Here
   
• Chronic isolation impairs sleep, raises stress hormones, and weakens immune response—effects that compound over time. Science Direct Read More Here

• The “friendship recession” shows that Americans now have far fewer close friends than in previous decades: only 13% report having 10+ close friends in 2021, down from 33 % in 1990. Read More Here
   
• Broader cultural shifts—like individualism, economic pressure, tech-driven isolation, and reduced community ties—fuel the loneliness epidemic. APA Read More Here