Tag Archives: Social connection

29Mar/26

Navigating the Friendship Recession and the Cost of Connection

March 29, 2026Lifestyledopamine, Emotions, Friendship, Friendship recession, Hikikomori, Interpersonal relationships, Japan, Joe Previte, John Cacioppo, Johnny, Kindness, Laura L. Carstensen, Loneliness, oxytocin, Phoenix, Social connection, Social isolation, Social issues, Social media, Social networks, the urban institute, United States, Vivek Murthyadmin

The Decline of the “Third Place” and the Rise of Global Isolation

March 30, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Core Issue: The “Friendship Recession” Modern society is experiencing a severe decline in social capital and interpersonal connections, a phenomenon widely referred to as the “friendship recession”. Data shows a quantifiable collapse in the size of our social networks: in 1990, 33% of Americans reported having 10 or more close friends, but by 2021, that number had plummeted to just 13%. Meanwhile, the percentage of individuals reporting zero close friends has quadrupled. This erosion of social capital—the “glue” that holds communities together through networks, trust, and reciprocity—is undermining both civic engagement and personal well-being.

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11Oct/23

How loneliness changes the way our brains process the world

October 11, 2023Human InterestAnthropomorphism, Cognitive neuroscience, Cognitive science, Creative Commons, Emotions, Empathy, Interpersonal relationships, Loneliness, Perception, Philosophy of love, Robin Kramer, Scotland, SHUTTERSTOCK, Social cognition, Social connection, Social issues, United Statesadmin

Robin Kramer, University of Lincoln

If there’s one thing we as humans seem to have in common, it’s that most of us have felt lonely at one time or another. But is the pain that comes with feeling socially isolated simply a part of being human? Why does the world seem so different when we’re feeling lonely?

Recent research has begun to provide some answers. And it turns out that loneliness can affect your perception and cognition.

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21Dec/22

Why do people feel lonely at Christmas? Here’s what the research says

December 21, 2022ReasearchAndrea Wigfield, Articles, Caregiving, Chronic condition, Creative Commons, Emotions, Friendship, Human behavior, Interpersonal relationships, John Ratcliffe, London, Loneliness, Philosophy of love, SHUTTERSTOCK, Social connection, Social isolation, United Kingdom, Young careradmin

Andrea Wigfield, Sheffield Hallam University and John Ratcliffe, Sheffield Hallam University

Christmas is said to be a time for connecting with friends, family and having fun. But it can also be time of loneliness. Indeed, the results of a 2018 survey looking at loneliness during Christmas time in the UK revealed that 17% of people felt more lonely over the festive period.

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