Living alone may be contributing to an increased risk of depression among adults, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The study, conducted during the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, found that 6.4% of adults who lived alone reported feelings of depression, compared with only 4.1% of those who lived with others. These findings were consistent across gender, age, income, and most racial groups.
The percentage of single-person households in the United States has more than doubled between 1962 and 2022, growing from 13.6% to 28.9%. In 2022, 16% of adults in the United States lived alone. The report noted that 37.9 million people lived alone in 2022, up 4.8 million from 2012.
Interestingly, the report also found that while economic factors seemed to exacerbate feelings of depression among those living alone, more than 90% of people who lived alone did not report feeling depressed. This suggests that the presence of social and emotional support may play a more significant role in mental well-being than living arrangements.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the importance of social and emotional support in mitigating feelings of depression. Adults who lived alone and reported never or rarely receiving social and emotional support were twice as likely to feel depressed as those who lived with others, according to the report.
It is important to note that living with others is not a guarantee of good mental health. The study’s findings come at a time when public health officials in the US and around the world are increasingly concerned about the impact of loneliness and social isolation on mental and physical health. The World Health Organization declared loneliness a global public health concern in 2023, highlighting the need for greater awareness and support for individuals experiencing social isolation.
In addition to the mental health implications, social isolation has also been associated with higher risks of dementia, heart disease, and stroke, further underscoring the need for strong social connections and support systems.
The report ultimately suggests that while living alone may increase the risk of social isolation, individuals in these living arrangements may still have access to social networks and support systems that can be protective of mental health. This highlights the complexity of the relationship between living situations and mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of social and emotional support as a key factor in mental health.