NPR

Americans who live alone report depression at higher rates, but social support helps

The number of people living alone in the U.S. jumped to nearly 38 million. A new study shows people who live alone are more likely to report depression if they didn't have other social supports.
The number of people living alone in the U.S. went from nearly 5 million to about 38 million in a decade. A new study shows those who live alone report depression more than those who live with others.

People living alone are more likely to report feeling depressed compared to those living with others, according to a new study by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. And that effect is particularly stark for people living alone who say they have little or no social and emotional support.

"The most interesting takeaway from this study was the importance, who wasn't involved in the new study. "And this is consistent with other evidence showing that social support and emotional support really play a pivotal role in people's overall health and well-being."

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