Loneliness epidemic: One in four adults globally feel very or quite alone, psychologist says

A global survey reveals a widespread sense of loneliness, with one in four adults worldwide reporting feeling very or quite alone. The Meta-Gallup study, conducted in 142 countries, found that 24% of individuals aged 15 and older experience loneliness. This feeling is most acute among young adults aged 19 to 29, affecting 27% of this demographic, while older adults aged 65 and above report the lowest rates at 17%.

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We pretend we are complete, we tell ourselves how well we are doing being alone, and we sustain discourses of success and detachment. But most people in therapy declare that they want to be with someone.

Psychologist Alaleh Nejafian, author of "Por amor, por qué pasamos de soportarlo todo a no soportar nada" (For love, why do we go from enduring everything to enduring nothing), explains that while people may outwardly project self-sufficiency, many secretly desire companionship. She notes that digital connections have fostered more anxious and intolerant relationships, characterized by a constant need for contact and a tendency towards monitoring others rather than genuine connection. Nejafian argues that true love thrives on distance and anticipation, elements often perceived negatively in today's fast-paced, hyper-connected world.

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The way we live considerably affects how we connect with others. Virtuality, for example, has brought us more anxious and intolerant bonds that seek to be in permanent contact, without intervals.

Nejafian further contends that external pressures such as stress, economic instability, and precarious employment conditions create an environment where people lack the emotional availability to form and maintain relationships. She advocates for slowing down and dedicating time to foster connections, emphasizing the importance of community and face-to-face interactions over superficial digital engagement. The psychologist warns against the isolating effects of modern life and the pervasive individualism, urging a return to meaningful, one-on-one relationships.

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However, love is nourished by distance and waiting, two essential instances for building an erotic bond with the other. If we experience distance as abandonment and waiting makes our hair stand on end, we are in trouble.