By the Numbers: 23 August 2021

By the Numbers: 23 August 2021

56.9%

The percentage of "a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans" who " endorsed feeling lonely sometimes (37.2%) or often (19.7%)," according to a study recently published online in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry -- Behavioral Epidemic of Loneliness in Older U.S. Military Veterans.

Loneliness is highly prevalent in U.S. military veterans, with more than half endorsing feeling lonely sometimes or often, and 1-of-5 reporting feeling lonely often. Loneliness severity was independently associated with a broad range of psychiatric and functional measures, including suicidal ideation. Results underscore the importance of loneliness as a transdiagnostic prevention and intervention target in the U.S. veteran population.