Survey Find Adults Without College Degrees Are More Likely To Have No Close Friends

A recent survey indicates that the share of U.S. adults who don’t have close friends has increased, particularly among those who didn’t graduate from college. Previously, this percentage was low, with only 2% of those with college degrees and 3% without. 

This has created a class divide in social engagement and connection, with nearly a quarter of U.S. adults with a high school diploma or lower education level having no close friends, and even higher for Black adults.

The findings come from a survey of around 6,600 adults

According to a survey conducted by the Survey Center on American Life, a nonprofit organization that studies how culture, politics, and technology shape people’s lives, our social fabric is divided into two layers: one for college-educated individuals, which is relatively intact, and one for those without college degrees, which is in tatters. The findings emphasize the need for additional research and knowledge.

The results coincide with a nationally acknowledged increase in social isolation

The findings are related to a nationally acknowledged growth in social isolation. According to a January American Psychiatric Association poll, almost 30% of Americans say they have experienced loneliness at least once a week during the past year, and 10% say they experience it daily.

Last year, the U.S. surgeon general declared loneliness an epidemic, linked to heart disease, stroke, dementia, and premature death. San Mateo County, California, declared a public health emergency due to high loneliness rates among residents. 

The decline in American social connection, according to senior fellow of polling and public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute, has been ongoing for decades, despite the pandemic’s help in highlighting the issue.

The trend of being alone due to video games and streaming services may be due to the boredom of being alone, leading to a decrease in social group participation. Additionally, individuals without college degrees may have fewer opportunities to engage in social activities due to limited access to free public spaces or lack of time or money to frequent venues like bars and restaurants.

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