New research shows Americans have fewer friends than in the past, and are less likely to have a best friend.
- Why it matters: At a time of excruciating mental and societal stress, this is another sign we’re breaking apart. And the friendship drought could get worse with more people working remotely or hybrid-ly.
Here are two key findings, from May polling by the Survey Center on American Life, a project of the American Enterprise Institute:
- Our number of close friends has declined considerably from 30 years ago, when 33% of U.S. adults reported having 10 or more close friends, not counting relatives. Now, 13% say that.
- In 1990, 75% of us said we had a “best friend.” This year, 59% said that.
AEI senior fellow Daniel Cox, who conducted the research, told me that as he’s discussed the findings on podcasts and online, people get it: “Everyone has their own anecdote.”