- Despite considerable concern, there is no clear evidence that Americans became more socially isolated during the first two decades of the 21st century.
- However, unsurprisingly, Americans did become more socially isolated during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Interestingly, Americans did not replace face-to-face interactions with other forms of interaction (e.g., phone, digital) during the pandemic.
How Socially Isolated Are Americans?
For several decades, scholars and commentators have worried that Americans are becoming more socially isolated due to the effects of technology, suburban living, and other factors.
But to what extent is this true? This is what Adam Roth from Oklahoma State University investigates in his recent research brief published in Socius, a top open-access journal in sociology.
Read on to learn more about Roth’s findings and what you can do to combat social isolation.
Background
There has been a raging debate among social scientists about whether and to what extent Americans are becoming more socially isolated. By some metrics, this appears to be the case. By others, however, there seems to be little to no change.
The debate over social isolation in America really gained traction with the publication of Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone in 2000. Putnam’s main argument was that Americans were becoming increasingly isolated due to a decline in membership of traditional civic organizations, such as bowling clubs. He suggested various causes for this decline, including technological changes, women entering the workforce, suburbanization, and changes in family structure. His work sparked widespread discussion and concern about the state of social connectivity in America.
Another major study that seemed to suggest increasing social isolation was published in the American Sociological Review–one of sociology’s top journals–in 2006. In it, the authors, Miller McPherson, Lynn Smith-Lovin and Matthew E. Brashears, used the General Social Survey–one of the most prestigious ongoing studies of trends and patterns in American life–to produce findings that seemed to support the finding of severe and worsening social isolation. Among other findings, their analysis suggested the number of Americans who did not discuss important matters with anybody had nearly tripled between 1985 and 2004.
But these findings have been met with skepticism as well as outright disagreement. Eminent sociologist Claude Fischer, for example, got into a rather public spat with McPherson et al. in 2009 regarding the statistical methods they used in their study. He followed this up with a 2010 book: Still Connected: Family and Friends in America Since 1970.
- In it, Fischer contended that while there have been changes in social patterns, these do not necessarily indicate a catastrophic disintegration of community in America.
- He posited that Americans’ social ties have evolved rather than disintegrated.
- Fischer’s perspective was that Americans might be socializing in different ways than before, like spending more time in restaurants rather than entertaining at home, but they were not necessarily more isolated.
The debate over social isolation in America continues to be a topic of interest among sociologists. Some researchers have found evidence of increasing social isolation, while others argue that the data does not support this conclusion.
The Study
Roth wants to contribute to this debate by examining a new data source: The American Time Use Survey (ATUS). Like the General Social Survey (GSS) used by McPherson et al. in 2006, the ATUS is one of the most authoritative ongoing studies of trends and patterns in American life–except it goes even further. Whereas the GSS is a survey, the ATUS is a time diary study, requiring participants to keep detailed diaries of their activities during the day–including their social interactions.
Roth uses the ATUS data to track the course of two categories over time:
- Physical isolation refers to people who did not participate in a single face-to-face interaction over the course of an entire day.
- Total isolation refers to people who did not engage in any kind of interaction over the course of an entire day–whether face-to-face or any kind of telecommunication.
Findings
Roth summarizes his findings in the above graph. The dots and squares represent the results for each years, while the lines represent the 95% confidence interval that the true finding lies within that range.
The results clearly show that the percent of Americans who are socially isolated typically clusters around 6-7 percent. Not surprisingly, those who totally isolate themselves are a bit rarer than those who only physically isolate themselves. There are, however, two exceptions to these generally flat trends:
- A small but statistically significant spike in isolation during the years 2008-2009 (perhaps related to the recession of those years).
- A very large and statistically significant spike in isolation during the years 2020-2022, likely related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the graph shows, more than 10 percent of Americans were physically isolated during the early years of the pandemic, while nearly 10 percent were completely isolated. Given that this is up from 6 to 7 percent, this represents an increase of 50 percent or more from the baseline.
“This micro perspective of daily life offers a nuanced view that broader assessments of social integration (e.g., social participation, social network modules) may fail to detect,” Roth concludes, no doubt referring to the GSS findings. “Collectively, the 20 years of ATUS diaries show that aside from the pandemic, there is minimal evidence that Americans are becoming increasingly socially isolated in recent years.”
How Can You Combat Social Isolation?
Social isolation has been linked to depression, a shorter lifespan, and a wide array of ill effects. To combat this, try the following:
- Regular Communication: Spend at least 15 minutes each day talking with or writing to a loved one. Consistently doing this, even for a short amount of time, can significantly enhance how connected you feel.
- Minimize Distractions During Conversations: When you are speaking with someone, focus on giving them your undivided attention. Avoid distractions like constantly checking your phone or emails, as this can negatively impact the quality of your interactions.
- Engage in Acts of Service: Small acts of kindness, such as checking on a neighbor, dropping food off for someone, or writing to people to let them know you’re thinking of them, can be powerful ways to connect with others and combat loneliness.
- Expand Your Social Network: Try to engage in activities where you can meet new people or reconnect with old friends. Joining clubs, classes, or community groups based on your interests can help you meet people with similar hobbies and values.
- Use Technology for Connection: Utilize communication technologies like video chats, smart speakers, or even companion robots to maintain social interactions, especially if physical meetings are not possible.
- Stay Physically Active with Others: Include group exercise in your routine, such as joining a walking club or working out with a friend. Physical activity can be a great way to connect with others while also improving your health.
- Volunteer or Join Community Activities: Engaging in volunteer work or participating in community events can provide a sense of purpose and allow you to connect with others who share your interests or values.
What are your thoughts on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social isolation? Have you or someone you know faced social isolation during the pandemic? Share your experiences in the comments below.
