About 1 in 4 Utahns report feeling lonely, more than national average
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A larger portion of Utahns — compared to the national average — reported feeling lonely at least sometimes in the latest vibe check from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Why it matters: Feelings of isolation and loneliness are a real public health threat — so much so that Surgeon General Vivek Murthy last year issued an advisory on the matter.
- Social isolation can increase an individual's risk for developing certain ailments like heart disease, anxiety, depression and early death, per the CDC.
Driving the news: About 42.5% of Utahns said they felt lonely at least sometimes in the newest Household Pulse Survey (HPS).
- The HPS is a brief online survey designed to quickly assess Americans' economic and financial wellbeing, among other topics.
- This one was conducted between July 23-Aug. 19, with nearly 60,000 respondents.
The big picture: About 40.3% of American adults said they experienced feelings of loneliness at least sometimes.
Zoom out: Alaska (45.9%), Oregon (44.7%) and Virginia (43.3%) had the highest rates of loneliness.
- Iowa (35.9%), Delaware (36.5%) and Wisconsin (37%) had the lowest.
Between the lines: Feelings of loneliness may be at least partially tied to weather — it would be no surprise if people up north started feeling a little more isolated in the cold slog of deep winter.
The bottom line: Getting out there and making some connections can do wonders for your mental health, as Axios' Carly Mallenbaum has reported.