Some of us may be old enough to remember the opening line of Elvis Presley’s song, “Are you lonesome tonight…?” As it turns out, a lot of people are, indeed, lonesome. Loneliness apparently has grown to epic proportions in the United States. It affects all age groups to one degree or another, and it is gender neutral—both men and women suffer from it.
Some Research Findings on Loneliness
In assessing loneliness, researchers probe a person’s subjective feelings about his or her being alone. Examples of such questions might include:
“Do you feel left out?”
“Do you feel as though you lack companionship?”
“Are your relationships