Work

Where Is Social Connection Most Needed in Daily Life?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In 2023, the US Surgeon General declared an "epidemic of loneliness and isolation." This study asks: (RQ1) Where do daily social connections come from? (RQ2) Can people find alternative sources of social connection when access from a location is unavailable? Using 10 years of data from the American Time Use Survey, I find that the home is the largest source of social connections in daily life, followed by the workplace and third places. More importantly, when people lack daily social connections at home (i.e., living alone), they have 3.8 h/day fewer connections than people who do not live alone. In contrast, when people lack daily social connections at work (i.e., through unemployment or retirement), they have 1.3 h/day fewer connections than employed people. This significant difference in effect size is explained by the compensation patterns of people lacking daily social connections at home vs. at work. Specifically, people who lack daily social connections at work can compensate for their loss by getting connections from home and third places, whereas people who live alone are not able or willing to find alternative sources of daily social connections from work or third places, highlighting the need to address social isolation at home.

Source: Personal Relationships

DOI: 10.1111/pere.70024

Author: Siyun Peng

Institutions: University of South Florida, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging