Thirty-eight percent of Americans have gone "no contact" with a friend or family member in the last year, according to a new study. The survey of 2,000 Americans revealed that young people are more likely than older groups to have gone "no contact" with a loved one (Gen Z 60%, millennials 50%, Gen X 38%, baby boomers 20%).
Investigating the "why" behind this trend, respondents' top reason was because that person was not respectful to them (36%). Other primary motivations cited in the study include that the relationship negatively impacted their mental health (29%) and that the other person was too negative in general (27%). Looking at the long-term impact, most people (59%) who've cut off connection said they are still not in touch with that person.
The study, commissioned by Talkspace and conducted by Talker Research for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, revealed the rise of additional isolating behaviors. More than a third of people (36%) have blocked a friend or family member on social media, and 30% have removed a loved one from a group chat. This corresponds with the survey finding that nearly three-quarters (73%) feel inclined to distance themselves from a friend or loved one when they experience difficult moments, rather than openly communicating to problem solve.
"These results suggest that avoiding relationship challenges is becoming more common, but that approach can come with its own risks, making it harder to sustain meaningful connections over time and leading to more loneliness," said Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, chief medical officer at Talkspace. "Prioritizing communication, setting healthy boundaries and staying engaged even when it's uncomfortable can help people preserve the relationships that support their mental wellness."
The tendency to self-isolate has contributed to feelings of seclusion. In the study, 47% said they experience loneliness during a typical day. And more than one in three (34%) confessed they feel less socially connected now, compared to five years ago. Furthermore, the gravitation towards isolation wasn't limited to personal relationships, and per the results, many use technology to avoid contact with those around them. People said they use self-checkout kiosks (64%), autonomous taxis (24%), online ordering (68%) and chatbots (42%) in order to reduce interactions with others.
Going even further, 37% confessed they'd prefer to pretend to take a phone call, rather than having two minutes of small talk with a stranger. And 40% admitted they'd rather cross the street to avoid someone they know. Gen Z was the age group most likely to prefer interaction avoidance. In light of this, it's unsurprising that the majority of people (68%) said they struggle to build in-person community. The top reasons cited for this were social anxiety (30%), preferring to spend time alone (30%) and feeling like they don't fit in (26%).
But although many (41%) are uninvolved in their local community, 31% do actually want to get more involved in local activities. The top ways people want to get more involved are by attending local festivals and cultural events (41%), building relationships with neighbors (37%), assisting with community service projects (34%) and shopping at local businesses (34%).
In order to build sustainable, healthy communities, cultivating balanced connections will be more important than ever. Respondents said they consider a relationship to be healthy if they feel safe enough to voice their thoughts (47%) and if there is mutual celebration of successes (41%). Along with those, feeling seen and understood, having consistency, and respecting boundaries are also criteria for a healthy relationship.