Loneliness Test: Are You Feeling Lonely?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Loneliness TestWho Is This Loneliness Quiz For?What To Know About LonelinessCauses of LonelinessLoneliness vs. Being AloneHealth Risks of Loneliness

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

The Loneliness Test

Who Is This Loneliness Quiz For?

What To Know About Loneliness

Causes of Loneliness

Loneliness vs. Being Alone

Health Risks of Loneliness

Humans are wired to be social creatures. We crave connections with others, and we need these connections to survive and thrive. When we don’t feel like our need forsocial connectionand relationships is met, we feelisolatedfrom the group or lonely, which can have significant effects on our health.

Take this fast and free quiz to help you determine whether or not you may be struggling with feelings of loneliness:

This quiz is for anyone who feels like they may be experiencing loneliness. It can help you better understand your feelings and determine if you may benefit from taking steps to help you feel more connected to others. Each question relates to life experiences common to having feelings ofloneliness.

People can experience loneliness in all different stages of life. For example, an older adult may feel lonely if they no longer have the social network they once did or if they lose a partner of many years. Teenagers may feel lonely if they don’t have the types of friendships at school that they would like.

Research shows that loneliness can have a negative impact on health.In response to concerns about loneliness in the United States, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory aimed at solutions to help people feel more connected to society and their community. In an 81-page report, the US Surgeon General’s Advisory calls loneliness a public health concern and cites data that about half of US adults report experiencing loneliness. The report also includes findings from a study that when asked how emotionally close they felt to others, less than half (39%) of US adults said they felt very connected to others.

There’s no one cause of loneliness. Everyone experiences the feeling differently.

One reason people experience loneliness is because social connections are lost. This can happen when people move to a new location, experience the death of a partner or loved one, become isolated from a social circle, or feel a lack of connection with the people in close proximity.

Some people enjoy solitude oralone time. It can provide space to reflect or recharge and be good for your mental health. You can be alone and not feel lonely. People who are alone but not lonely usually choose to have this alone time.

On the other hand, you can experience loneliness in the presence of others. Loneliness is also not something people choose. It’s the feeling when you aren’t getting the social connection you crave.

Loneliness has an impact on both mental and physical health. Research suggests loneliness as a potential risk factor for dementia, heart disease, and stroke in adults aged 50 and older.However, health risks from loneliness can affect people of all ages. These include:

You may feel like you’re alone, but you’re not. Loneliness is something all of us feel from time to time, Do your best to stay connected to friends and loved ones, don’t be afraid to meet new people, and try to grow more comfortable asking for help from a trusted individual or therapist if you need it. Remember, even if it doesn’t seem that way, there are people who care and want to help.

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023).Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.Bonsaksen T, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Thygesen H, Lamph G, Kabelenga I, Geirdal AØ. Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychol Behav Med. 2023 Jan 1;11(1):2158089. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021).Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions.Additional ReadingCacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9Hawkley, L.C. Loneliness and health.Nat Rev Dis Primers8, 22 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00355-9Shovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087Yanguas J, Pinazo-Henandis S, Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ. The complexity of loneliness. Acta Biomed. 2018 Jun 7;89(2):302-314. doi: 10.23750/abm.v89i2.7404

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023).Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.Bonsaksen T, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Thygesen H, Lamph G, Kabelenga I, Geirdal AØ. Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychol Behav Med. 2023 Jan 1;11(1):2158089. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021).Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions.Additional ReadingCacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9Hawkley, L.C. Loneliness and health.Nat Rev Dis Primers8, 22 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00355-9Shovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087Yanguas J, Pinazo-Henandis S, Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ. The complexity of loneliness. Acta Biomed. 2018 Jun 7;89(2):302-314. doi: 10.23750/abm.v89i2.7404

Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023).Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.Bonsaksen T, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Thygesen H, Lamph G, Kabelenga I, Geirdal AØ. Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychol Behav Med. 2023 Jan 1;11(1):2158089. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021).Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023).Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.

Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.

Bonsaksen T, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Thygesen H, Lamph G, Kabelenga I, Geirdal AØ. Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychol Behav Med. 2023 Jan 1;11(1):2158089. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021).Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions.

Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9Hawkley, L.C. Loneliness and health.Nat Rev Dis Primers8, 22 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00355-9Shovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087Yanguas J, Pinazo-Henandis S, Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ. The complexity of loneliness. Acta Biomed. 2018 Jun 7;89(2):302-314. doi: 10.23750/abm.v89i2.7404

Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9

Hawkley, L.C. Loneliness and health.Nat Rev Dis Primers8, 22 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00355-9

Shovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087

Yanguas J, Pinazo-Henandis S, Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ. The complexity of loneliness. Acta Biomed. 2018 Jun 7;89(2):302-314. doi: 10.23750/abm.v89i2.7404

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