Young Americans feel disconnected from their communities, and in the past few years, the problem has only gotten worse. The 50th edition of the biannual Harvard Youth Poll, released today, provides new insights into the state of this isolated generation and finds that community connections are highly unequal for young people in America.
This problem is a part of what former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called America’s Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. In a letter published about the epidemic, Murthy claimed that social disconnection reduces lifespan as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Beyond just physical impacts, however, social isolation harms mental health and society at large. Connecting and engaging with others in ways that matter is also important for public life, both socially and politically.
When asked about their sense of belonging in a community, just 17% of young adults ages 18-29 responded that they felt “deeply connected to at least one community.” Twenty-six percent of respondents said they felt “somewhat connected to a community,” while 18% said they “do not feel a strong sense of belonging anywhere.”
Youth do not feel connected to their neighbors, and isolation from their home communities makes it even more difficult to tap into local organizations or initiatives. Young Americans are more likely than older Americans to feel a sense of isolation, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these effects, with 22% of young Americans reporting that they became more socially isolated after the pandemic. After many months separated from their peers, some reported that their friend groups or community organizations never returned to normal. The surveyed group were mostly ages 13-24 in 2020, and their time in high school and college, a significant period of development, was affected by the pandemic.
But this epidemic has not affected all young Americans equally: Pre-existing socio-economic divides separate people by their levels of connection. One of the most significant indicators of social connection is whether someone is college-educated. Twenty-six percent of those currently in college and 22% of those who have a college degree feel deeply connected to a community, while only 12% of those who have not attended college responded the same way. Similarly, approximately half of those who reside in cities and suburbs answered that they feel strongly or somewhat connected to a community, compared to 39% of those living in rural areas and 32% of those in small towns.
These indicators are a part of the growing 80-20 divide: the divide between the upper middle class and the rest of America. Over the past half-century, the upper 20% has seen increases in income, wealth, and attainment in higher education. They are also more likely to live in cities and are more connected to their peers, which only exacerbates the social divide between these two groups, as proximity fosters connection. This was reflected in the poll results, which found that about half of those in the upper brackets of family income felt a sense of community compared with less than 30% of those in the lower income brackets.
Where Americans live and whether they have received a college education play a strikingly important role in their social lives. Historically, institutions such as unions and churches, as well as economically and residentially integrated communities, brought together Americans from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
However, with increasing geographical and lifestyle gaps between Americans comes more isolation. This seclusion of lower socioeconomic groups is not random: people with college degrees are more likely to live in areas with public institutions such as libraries and parks, commercially vibrant neighborhoods, and areas where connection with neighbors is common. And those with more access to common spaces report having more friends and feeling less alone.
The dire implications of loneliness go beyond individual health. Social isolation harms the health of communities and the civic health of the country at large. Social isolation is not an individual issue; it points to the lack of thriving communities across the country. As young disconnected Americans grow up, this will become the new norm for the country.
Lonely people are more likely to feel insecure and to fear the unknown, increasing their sense of self-reliance as a necessity. Even when problems are far away, such as urban crime from rural areas, feelings of isolation can increase alarm. These sentiments invoke more extremist views. Loneliness has been shown to increase susceptibility to right-wing, populist movements, and is frequently cited as the main reason people get involved in extremist groups. As social isolation rises and traditional community organizations lose prominence, far-right movements gain power.
Despite this isolation, one group still maintains a strong sense of community: religious people. The Harvard Youth Poll found that Evangelical Christians, Protestants, and members of a non-Abrahamic faith are most likely to feel belonging in a community, while those with no religious preference or are not religious are much less likely to feel a sense of community belonging. Furthermore, religious young people who place greater importance on religion in their own lives are the most likely to feel a strong sense of community: 62% of those who described religion as “very important” to their life felt a sense of community belonging, compared to only 36% of those who are not religious.
Clearly, religious organizations are still building social ties. However, there is also an increasing disparity in church membership, with those who are college educated being more likely to be a part of a religious organization, meaning they do less to help bridge the gap of social connection. Churches and other religious communities are essential fixtures of their communities, building relationships, often providing aid, and encouraging participation in civic activities.
The results of this edition of the Harvard Youth Poll suggest a path forward for young Americans in the face of rising extremism and economic disparity: build community. It also suggests investing in community infrastructure and fixtures that foster social connection is a vital policy goal, both for public and civic health, and addressing increasing socioeconomic inequality. For young Americans to build their sense of belonging, they must feel as if they are connected to their community and as if their community will respond to their needs, both in their immediate community and in their political inclinations at large.
Interviews Editor
