With work taking up such a big part of our lives, mental health issues such as loneliness can have a significant impact on how workers view, and perform, their jobs. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Americans say they are lonely and getting lonelier, a new study finds, and the workplace can both contribute to, and suffer from, these feelings.

The Cigna 2020 Loneliness Index paints a literally depressing picture: 60 percent of Americans consider themselves lonely (a seven-percentage-point increase from last year), younger people report feeling lonelier than older people, and social media seems to be fueling feelings of loneliness and isolation.

"These results come against the backdrop of a rising mental health crisis in America, with more than 46 million people living with a mental illness," the company said in its release of the report. Mental health issues, including a rise in suicide rates, along with increasing numbers of drug and alcohol-related deaths, have made headlines in the past year.

The study used UCLA's Loneliness scale, a 20-item questionnaire, to survey more than 10,000 adults and assess self-reported, subjective feelings of loneliness or social isolation. Cigna's findings show that Americans say they are lacking in social support, have too few meaningful interactions with others, experience poor physical and mental health, and don't have enough work/life balance.

The report's focus: Loneliness and the workplace

The report noted that Americans spend, on average, 90,000 hours of their lifetimes at work. With work taking up such a big part of our lives, mental health issues such as loneliness can have a significant impact on how workers view, and perform, their jobs.

As might be expected, loneliness affects performance: lonely people feel less productive, take more sick days, and think about quitting their jobs twice as often as those who do not report feeling lonely. In addition, 12 percent of respondents who say they are lonely also say their work quality is lower than it should be.

Feeling underutilized is also an issue: Americans who feel as though they work less than they want are almost three points lonelier on the Loneliness Scale than those who work more than they want, and more than six points lonelier than those who feel they work as much as they want, the study found.

Employees who feel they don't have a good work/life balance are almost seven points lonelier than those that do say they have a good balance. And those reporting that they don't have good relationships with co-workers are 10 points lonelier than those who do, according to the survey.

The challenge of re-connecting people and workers

The Cigna report recognizes that modern trends involving technology and business models are playing a role in the loneliness problem.

"The trends shaping how we work – increasing use of technology, more telecommuting and the always-on work culture – are leaving Americans more stressed, less rested, spending more time on social media, and less time with friends and family," said Cigna's President and CEO, David Cordani. "For the business community, it is resulting in less engagement, less productivity, and lower retention levels. To confront these issues at home and at work, we are helping people build stronger connections and driving deeper health engagement to improve overall well-being and vitality."

With the report, Cigna announced it is taking a number of steps to address the current trends toward isolation and poor mental health. The insurance carrier is expanding its network of mental health specialists and will make it easier for customers to access providers in person, over the phone, and virtually. In addition, the Cigna Foundation will provide $3 million to provide mental health resources in schools, addressing the early risks of mental illness, the company said.

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