Millions of Americans will spend Christmas alone this year amid a nationwide loneliness epidemic, a study has found.
A new survey found that about 19 million Americans will spend Christmas alone this year, which is equivalent to one in fourteen adults.
According to the survey, Oregon has the highest percentage of people who celebrate Christmas alone at 45 percent, while Tennessee has the lowest percentage at 12 percent.
According to the survey, Oregon has the highest number of people who celebrate Christmas alone at 45 percent, while Tennessee has the lowest number at 12 percent.
Oregon has the highest percentage of people partying alone at 45 percent, while Tennessee has the lowest percentage at 12 percent
“Alone” was defined as living in a single household and not intending to see anyone on December 25.
Oregon has a higher percentage of people 65 and older, nearly one in five, compared to 17 percent in Tennessee, data from the Population Reference Bureau shows, which may explain why the state will be lonelier at Christmas.
Southern states, including Tennessee and Mississippi, may also have a stronger culture of family and community gatherings during the holidays that reflect traditional Southern values.
The states that were the loneliest tended to be in the western United States. Nevada, Colorado and Arkansas also had high levels of loneliness.
The least lonely states are now mainly in the southeast of the country. Tennessee was followed by Nebraska, Mississippi, Maryland, Iowa, New Jersey and Washington.
It may also be that the cost of living in Tennessee is lower than other states, which can support larger households and more family-oriented lifestyles.
According to Forbes Advisor, the cost of living in Tennessee was $34,742 in 2023, compared to $46,193 in Oregon.
Online-Solitaire.com – an online gaming company – commissioned an online survey asking 4,000 adults in single-person households whether they intended to spend Christmas alone.
The participant pool was a geographically representative panel covering all states in the United States and did not necessarily consist of users of the gaming platform.
Respondents from multi-person households and those under 18 were excluded because it was assumed that they were significantly less likely to spend Christmas alone.
They also asked participants how they planned to deal with loneliness at Christmas.
More than one in four respondents said they spend time playing online games, and six percent said they participate in online communities.
One in five admitted they enjoyed watching films, while 15 percent said they pursued a hobby.
Another 15 percent said they would cook all day, and just over one in 10 said they would volunteer.
The remaining eight percent said they spent time reading.
Earlier this year, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services declared loneliness an epidemic and warned that it is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It’s also worse than being overweight or not exercising.
According to previous research, lonely people are up to 30 percent more likely to develop heart disease. They also have a higher risk of dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and early death.
Dr Vivek Murthy said social isolation must be treated with the same urgency as “tobacco use, obesity and the addiction crisis”.
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Loneliness rates have been rising for years, but have worsened rapidly during the pandemic lockdowns.
A survey found that one in five people felt lonely during the pandemic, compared to six per cent before Covid.
According to the surgeon general’s advice, Americans spent about 20 minutes a day in person with friends in 2020, up from 60 minutes a day nearly two decades earlier.
Research cited in the surgeon general’s remarks found that time spent with friends decreased by 20 hours per month from 2003 to 2020.
Meanwhile, time spent alone has increased by up to 24 hours, likely exacerbated by the coronavirus restrictions.
Socially connected people live longer because loneliness can cause chronic stress and lead to inflammation that damages tissues and blood vessels.
Isolation also increases a person’s chances of suffering from depression, anxiety and dementia.
Some 42 percent of respondents said Christmas Day was the hardest day to spend alone because of its cultural significance.
Personal birthdays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve followed.
Of those surveyed who would spend Christmas with their family, 88 percent said they would invite a neighbor known to be alone to celebrate with them.
Another survey by MedicareFAQ found that one in four seniors will not see their family during the holidays.
In November of this year, MedicareFAQ surveyed 640 seniors about their experiences with loneliness, especially during the holidays.
The respondents were predominantly women, between 65 and 99 and 70 years old on average.
One survey respondent, a 72-year-old man from California, said, “I don’t see my family and haven’t heard from them in over a decade.”
Research shows that Americans who have become less involved in religious services, community organizations, and even their own family members consistently report increases in feelings of loneliness over the past few decades.
The number of single-person households has also doubled in the last 60 years.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
