Cigna study finds high level of loneliness in Hartford, U.S.

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By John Stearns

Most Hartford area adults are considered lonely, mirroring the broader U.S. population, according to results of a national loneliness survey released by Bloomfield-based health insurer Cigna.

Cigna, which called the results “alarming,” said it is piloting a new initiative to better integrate behavioral health services into its collaborative care arrangements.

The survey, conducted by market research firm Ipsos, employed the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a questionnaire that assesses subjective feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Finding from Hartford-area residents include:

48 percent say they sometimes or always feel that no one really knows them well.

46 percent report sometimes or always feeling alone, and the same portion say they sometimes or always feel that their relationships with others are not meaningful.

Approximately 45 percent say they sometimes or always feel left out.

45 percent say they sometimes or always feel isolated from others.

18 percent say they rarely or never feel close to people, and the same portion of Hartford residents say they rarely or never feel like there are people who really understand them.

The survey also found that people in Hartford with higher incomes are less lonely than those with lower incomes.

Those whose annual household incomes is lower than $75,000 have an average loneliness score 3.5 points higher than those whose annual household incomes are $75,000 or greater.

In addition, younger Hartford residents are lonelier than their older counterparts. Those ages 18 to 34 have an average loneliness score 5.2 points higher than those ages 55+.

Cigna said loneliness has a profound impact on workplace productivity, and it plans to convene a group of its clients to discuss steps that can be taken and potential solutions to improve vitality and address loneliness in the workplace.