With about 33% 0f people saying they report feeling lonely once a week or more, a new APA Healthy Minds survey looks at how people are coping. According to the poll, men and women and older and younger adults are using different strategies to deal with these feelings. Overall, younger adults are more likely to feel lonely than older adults. For example, 43% of young adults aged 18 to 34 feel lonely at least once a week compared to only 17% of adults 65 and older.

Not surprisingly, most people feel a sense of belonging with their family (66%) and friends (55%). About one in four adults find a sense of belonging in their faith community and one in five adults feel a sense of belonging at work. Men (26%) are significantly more likely than women (15%) to find that sense of belonging at work.

Ways of Coping

The most common way adults say they cope with loneliness, used by about two-thirds of adults, is watching TV, movies, or online videos. In addition, other top ways to cope, identified by about half or more of adults, are

• Listening to music, 57%
• Talking to a friend or family member, 49%
• Sleeping, 47%
• Going on social media, 46%

Women are more likely to talk to friends/family, engage in hobbies/creative activities, listen to music, and spend time with pets or animals. Men, however, are more likely than women to play video games.

Women are more likely than men to likely to watch TV/movies or listen to music to cope and a similar percentage of men and women turn to social media. Younger adults (aged 18-34) are more likely than older adults to go on social media and play video games when they are feeling lonely.

More than a quarter of men, women and adults of all ages say they exercise as a way to cope with loneliness. However, younger adults and men are more likely to do so than older adults and women.

Role of technology

The survey also looked at two other related factors: amount of in-person vs online interaction and the role of technology in supporting or hindering relationships. About half (49%) said they are most likely to interact with people in person daily, and just over one-third (36%) said online. Men are more likely than women to say they interact with more people in person. Younger adults are more likely interact with more people online everyday than older adults and older adults are more likely to interact with more people in-person every day.

Overall, people had a positive view of technology, with about half of adults saying that technology helps them form new relationships, strengthens existing relationships, and makes it easier to express thoughts. Almost two-thirds say it helps maintain relationships. However, about two in five adults say that technology makes their relationships feel less personal and about one-third say it causes misunderstandings in relationships.

Men are more likely than women to see technology as helpful in forming relationships AND more likely to see technology interfering with forming relationships. Younger adults are more likely than older adults to say technology makes it easier to express thoughts/feelings. Younger adults are also more likely than older adults to see technology as helpful AND more likely to see technology interfering with forming relationships.

While a variety of activities can be helpful in coping with temporary feelings of loneliness, if you’re feeling persistently overwhelmed or distressed, consider reaching out to a mental health care professional.