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Most people at some point feel a temporary sense of isolation and loneliness, but others suffer a deeper, more lasting mood that affects their mental and physical health.  
 
In a new report, researchers in the at the ���۴�ý’s  (COPH) address loneliness and social isolation and potential solutions  to an elusive and often misunderstood problem. 
 
 “People think about epidemics more as diseases or something with a diagnosis or that’s more visible,’’ said , interim chair, and distinguished university health professor. “There’s not a ‘diagnosis’ per se for loneliness or social isolation, but the risks they create are real and important for society to consider.’’ 
 
Liller and her team outlined their work in  “,” published in the Journal of Health Advocacy. 

 
They discuss how loneliness and social isolation are at a concerning level in the United States, with about half the population – roughly 160 million people − reporting loneliness as constant in their lives, according a 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. It said the health consequences can be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes per day or having alcohol use disorder, leading to both short and long-term adverse effects on a person’s health. Outcomes range from poor sleep quality to suicidal thoughts. 
 
“According to various literature, being lonely and isolated can trigger chronic stress which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system,’’ Liller said of other symptoms. “It can also lead to cognitive decline and mental health issues, including depression.’’ 
 
���۴�ý ranks high in part because of the large elderly population, with an estimated 11 million people dealing with some form of isolation and loneliness. However, younger individuals are now at an increased risk as well, a rate exacerbated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. When looking at other underlying causes, issues such as identity formation, life transitions, moving away from family and friends to attend college, have been specifically related to loneliness among young people, according to Liller’s report.  
 
However, loneliness and social isolation are not the same thing. Loneliness encompasses “a feeling or subjective distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or inadequate connections’’ according to the COPH authors. Social isolation is measured in terms of having few social relationships and roles, or group memberships, and infrequent interactions. 

“I began to see loneliness not as an individual weakness, but as a systemic outcome of how society is structured’’

COPH undergraduate student Manisha

In preparing the paper, Liller worked with colleagues in the Activist Lab, which she founded in 2018 as a platform to prepare students as public health  leaders. Each year, the lab conducts more than 70 education, research, and outreach projects regarding public health. Contributing to the paper were COPH undergraduate student Manisha Katwal, graduate student Hannah Harburg, and Gabriella Hinks, a recent COPH alumna.. 
 
To address isolation and loneliness, in 2023 the Activist Lab partnered with the ���۴�ý Public Health Association to develop a statewide task force focused on identifying and addressing these two growing issues across the state. The collaboration led to a community resource guide, advocacy tools, educational programs and actions to better assess the epidemic at the local and state levels. The task force met monthly to discuss the strategies of the different agencies involved such as connecting with seniors in communities with weekly phone calls and information about resources, health fairs, working with veterans on health care issues including suicide prevention and educational portals. 

One group that works with Activist Lab is Health Buddies, part of Seniors in Service, a non-profit established in 1984 to assist older and socially isolated adults. It connects trained volunteers, primarily USF students, with people in need through regular phone companionship, resource support, and encouragement to age safely and independently.  

Through its partnership with USF, Seniors in Service makes use of research expertise with hands-on experience serving the community, said Health Buddies program manager Aria Garling. 
 
“This ensures that we are not only evidence-based but responsive to the real needs of older adults in ���۴�ý, helping reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital readmissions,’’ she said.  
 
In developing the journal paper, the researchers collected baseline information from about 4,000 respondents that could guide future planning and prevention efforts. 
 
“Working on this project profoundly shaped my understanding of public health, not only as a field of study but as a lived and systemic reality,’’ Katwal said. “Before engaging in this work, I understood loneliness and social isolation primarily as emotional experiences. Through this project, I learned that they are deeply rooted public health concerns with measurable health consequences, social implications, and structural determinants.’’ 
 
She added that social isolation isn’t simply about being alone, but an experience influenced by social systems, community infrastructure, economic pressures, technology use, and the environment.  
 
“Factors such as transportation access, urban design, workplace culture, and digital communication all shape opportunities for meaningful connection,’’ she said. “I began to see loneliness not as an individual weakness, but as a systemic outcome of how society is structured.’’