Earlier this week Pew Research Center published the results of a survey they conducted in July that found around 1 in 12 American adults (8%) have no close friends outside of their family. You read that right, 1 out of every 12 American adults self-reported that they didn’t have any close friends outside of their family.
Among those who responded the breakdown by number of close friends follows
- 0 – 8%
- 1 – 7%
- 2 – 14%
- 3 – 18%
- 4 – 13%
- 5 – 13%
- 6 – 6%
- 7 – 2%
- 8 – 2%
- 9 – 1%
- 10 or more – 13%
- Did not answer – 1%
Put differently, 15% of the population has 1 or fewer close friends outside their family and 29% of the population has 2 or fewer close friends beyond their family.
Relationships Matter
Those who follow the Way of Jesus, recognize the importance of relationships. And, it turns out, so also do Americans at large. For example, Pew Research reports that 61% of American adults claim that having close friends is extremely or very important to live a fulfilling life (markedly higher than the percentage of people who same the same about being married, 23%, having children, 26%, or having a lot of money, 24%.
Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General Advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country.
So What?
Now is the time for the church to be intentional about providing a safe space for people to nurture and develop healthy relationships of all types, including those that may become close friendships.
I’d love to hear how your local congregation is helping people overcome loneliness, make meaningful connections, and develop close friendships.