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How Can Social Connection Reduce Loneliness?

Medically reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Everyone has felt lonely at some point. Loneliness is feeling separate or distant from others when you want to feel close or connected, or to feel part of something.

Lonely feelings can be any or all of these:

  • feeling you don’t fit in when you want to belong, or are left out when you want to be included
  • not having friends around
  • thinking no one understands what it’s like for you
  • feeling alone with your troubles or thinking there’s no one to talk to about them
  • feeling like everyone else is having fun that you’re not part of

Lonely feelings can be painful. But everyone feels lonely at times.

Loneliness happens when one of our most important needs is not met — at least in that moment, in that situation. We feel lonely when we don’t feel the social connection we need.

What Is Social Connection?

Social connection is the name for feelings of closeness, bonding, and belonging.

Social connection includes:

  • feeling close to (and important to) people in your life
  • feeling cared for, loved, included, and understood
  • feeling seen, accepted, and valued for who you are
  • knowing you belong — to a family, a friendship, a team, a couple, or a community