Four in 10 adults have felt lonely – despite being surrounded by other people, study finds

More than four in 10 adults have gone at least three days without talking to another person face-to-face, according to research. A study of 2,000 adults discovered 40 percent have also experienced the feeling of being lonely, despite constantly being surrounded by other people.

Those aged 18-24 were found to suffer the most (60 percent) – with 38 percent of women feeling this way, compared to just 30 percent of men.

It also emerged 28 percent have felt lonely while at a social event, while a quarter of workers have felt alone at their job. Despite this, 43 percent believe bonding with someone through a shared experience would make them feel less alone.

The study was commissioned by dance fitness brand, Zumba – which has documented two people who have experienced loneliness, as they took part in a class together for the first time.

A spokesman said: “Loneliness can affect anybody, and our research has revealed that it is not exclusively linked with being physically alone.

“Despite having plenty of social contact, many people still experience feelings of loneliness – probably as a result of lacking real human connection. This connection can come from a shared experience, such as a group fitness class.

“It is no surprise that many friendships are formed in classes like ours – but what is less obvious, and perhaps more powerful, is the positive effect of simply sharing the class experience for an hour, with others whom you may not have formally met or spoken to.”

The study also found only 14 percent “often” talk to others about their feelings of loneliness, as 62 percent believe there is a stigma around it.

And while one in five claim to be sociable, 35 percent admit they find it difficult to talk to or interact with new people.

Meanwhile, 44 percent believe that even with lots of friends, it is still possible to experience a feeling of loneliness.

Confidence, anxiety levels, and sleep are some of the top things that are negatively impacted by being lonely, according to those polled, via OnePoll.com.

And 42 percent said their sleep gets worse when they feel lonely, while 29 percent view themselves as less attractive – and three in 10 say their diet is affected.

As a result, 32 percent believe they would benefit from being part of a community or group, and one in three feel a personal accomplishment would help reduce their feelings of loneliness.

Psychologist Anjula Mutanda, who has partnered with Zumba to help combat loneliness, said: “Human beings are by our very nature social beings, and psychological research asserts that we need to belong, to relate to each other, and feel connected to other people – this is how we survive and thrive.

“Therefore, feeling disconnected or cut-off from quality relationships with others, can negatively impact our mental and physical health – something which has been highlighted in the research.

“Experiencing loneliness can come in different forms, and is uniquely felt by each of us.

“This is why some people can feel disconnected in a crowd, or disconnected within their relationships – while others may experience feelings of loneliness when they move away from home, start a new job, or experience a bereavement.

“It can also affect your confidence, and leave you feeling too afraid or too embarrassed to tell someone how you actually feel – which could potentially lead to a downward spiral of “silent suffering”, and can really take a toll on your wellbeing.

“The good news is that there are steps you can start to take to help you combat loneliness, such as taking part in physical exercise, or reaching out to others for connection and support.”