Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad

Yeah. So, I mean, like I said earlier, and anyone can be lonely.

Yeah. So, I mean, like I said earlier, and anyone can be lonely.

We see the highest prevalence rates in that adolescent to young adult range.

We see the highest prevalence rates in that adolescent to young adult range.

Um, so, you know, I, I, I, there are many hypotheses. I wish I could just say, this is it. And, um, but there may be many factors contributing to this. And, uh, and, and so, uh, one factor is that when you look across generations, adolescence just seems to be a hard time for people. Um, so developmentally, uh, It's a time when you are trying to figure out who you are.

Um, so, you know, I, I, I, there are many hypotheses. I wish I could just say, this is it. And, um, but there may be many factors contributing to this. And, uh, and, and so, uh, one factor is that when you look across generations, adolescence just seems to be a hard time for people. Um, so developmentally, uh, It's a time when you are trying to figure out who you are.

Also, that young adulthood period is when you are often leaving your home of origin for the first time. And so all of these kinds of developmental changes can be difficult And on top of that, you also don't have the years of wisdom and experience behind you to deal with them. And so there's that aspect of it.

Also, that young adulthood period is when you are often leaving your home of origin for the first time. And so all of these kinds of developmental changes can be difficult And on top of that, you also don't have the years of wisdom and experience behind you to deal with them. And so there's that aspect of it.

But there is some evidence to suggest that this generation may be somewhat different compared to previous generations when they were adolescents. And so because of that, some are suspecting the role of technology and social media and to what extent that is playing. I will note that that is highly debatable and highly charged when people talk about it. But certainly is something that

But there is some evidence to suggest that this generation may be somewhat different compared to previous generations when they were adolescents. And so because of that, some are suspecting the role of technology and social media and to what extent that is playing. I will note that that is highly debatable and highly charged when people talk about it. But certainly is something that

you know, all generations are pretty much using. But this generation kind of started with this at a critical time. And so that may be one potential explanation. There's also other kinds of explanations around just the emphasis on economic success and how so many young kids are, you know, so to speak, overscheduled and may not have as much time for socializing.

you know, all generations are pretty much using. But this generation kind of started with this at a critical time. And so that may be one potential explanation. There's also other kinds of explanations around just the emphasis on economic success and how so many young kids are, you know, so to speak, overscheduled and may not have as much time for socializing.

But then you now, in terms of looking to the future and thinking about younger generations, we also have to think about the impact of the pandemic.

But then you now, in terms of looking to the future and thinking about younger generations, we also have to think about the impact of the pandemic.

And so going forward, we're going to have this generation of kids that, depending on what stage of infancy, childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood they dealt with this, is that there was a two to three year period where there was significant reductions in social contact, socializing. at very important developmental stages.

And so going forward, we're going to have this generation of kids that, depending on what stage of infancy, childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood they dealt with this, is that there was a two to three year period where there was significant reductions in social contact, socializing. at very important developmental stages.

And to what extent is this going to have long-term kinds of effects on their social skills and other kinds of ways that we might not have even You know that we aren't even thinking of yet.

And to what extent is this going to have long-term kinds of effects on their social skills and other kinds of ways that we might not have even You know that we aren't even thinking of yet.

And, and so we can look at kind of what's the data we have now, but then also thinking about like what's the data going to look like going forward, I should point out that, interestingly, when we look at the American time you survey. This is data on how Americans spend the minutes of their day. And they they look at this.

And, and so we can look at kind of what's the data we have now, but then also thinking about like what's the data going to look like going forward, I should point out that, interestingly, when we look at the American time you survey. This is data on how Americans spend the minutes of their day. And they they look at this.