Data & Research

Loneliness and social isolation have serious physical and mental health implications in older adults and people with disabilities.

Presentation by the Department of Health Services

Infographic describing statistics from a study by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Report by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Policy brief by Michigan University

Additional Data Resources

Map of Social Isolation in U.S. Older Adults from Connect2Affect
Health Risks of Social Isolation and Loneliness Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Assess Your Community Review data and trends in your local community
Social and Emotional Support Fact Sheet

Measurement Resources

Publications

Research

Research on isolation, loneliness, &/or social connection

Preventing Social Isolation in Older Adults Cotterell, 2018
Interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people: an integrative review Gardiner, 2018
How is Wisconsin responding to social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic? Results from an Extension survey of partner organizations Kristin Litzelman, Sara Richie, Jenna Klink, Sara Fox, Ruth Schriefer, and Debbie Moellendorf, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, 2020
Modifying Behavioral Activation to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults Pepin, 2021
Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults: a scoping review of reviews Fakoya, 2020
Intervention to reduce perceived loneliness in community-dwelling older people Rodriguez-Romero, 2020
Ensuring full participation of people with disabilities in an era of telehealth; Rupa S Valdez, Courtney C Rogers, Henry Claypool, Lucy Trieshmann, Olivia Frye, Claire Wellbeloved-Stone, Poorna Kushalnagar; Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association,
Volume 28, Issue 2, February 2021, Pages 389–392,
Online conversations show potential cognitive benefit for socially isolated older adults
Research Highlights: Social Isolation, Loneliness in older people pose health risks National Institute on Health

Reports

Advisory: The Healing Effects of Social Connection U.S. Surgeon General’s Report
Leveling the Playing Field: Improving Technology Access and Design for People with Intellectual Disabilities; President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) 2015 Report
COVID-19 Underscores the Need to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness; Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA – Public Health Reports
Social Isolation with a Focus on Equity, 2020 Report; State Advisory Council on Aging, Michigan
Connected Nation Michigan; SAC Report 2020, page 27
2016 Legislative Council Study Committee on Rural Broadband
Governor’s Taskforce on Broadband
UW-Extension Report: Strategies and Policy Options for Broadband Access Across Wisconsin, January 2021

Articles