BRIEF REPORT
Brennan Keiser, MSW; Karina Cortez; Chialing Hsu, MS; Kari A. Stephens, PhD; Sebastian T. Tong, MD, MPH
Corresponding Author: Sebastian T. Tong, MD, MPH; Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington.
Email: setong@uw.edu
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2025.250144R2
Keywords: Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Disparities, LGBTQ, Loneliness, Logistic Regression, Mental Health, Minority Health, Primary Health Care, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Sexuality, Social Determinants of Health, Social Problems, Surveys and Questionnaires, Washington, Young Adult
Dates: Submitted: 04-16-2025; Revised: 09-23-2025; 09-30-2025; Accepted: 11-03-2025
Status: In production.
BACKGROUND: Loneliness has increased in recent years and is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes. While much research has focused on older adults, to date there has been limited research into loneliness in young adults who have the highest rates of loneliness. This study sought to explore loneliness rates among subgroups of emerging adults ages 18-25.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a large primary care health system in Washington State.
RESULTS: Out of 243 emerging adult respondents, 136 (56%) reported experiencing loneliness. Bivariate analyses showed no significant difference for racial/ethnic minorities while women and non-binary individuals were significantly lonelier than men (p=0.03), sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups were lonelier than heterosexuals (p< 0.01) and single individuals were lonelier than those in a relationship (p=0.02). In a logistic regression model (R2=0.11), SGM individuals had 2.01 greater odds of loneliness compared to heterosexuals (95% CI=1.09-3.75; p=0.03) and individuals in a relationship had 0.37 the odds compared to single individuals (95% CI=0.20-0.66; p<0.01).
DISCUSSION: These findings show that it is feasible to identify emerging adults in primary care with loneliness and demonstrate the need for targeted loneliness interventions in primary care settings to reduce health disparities among emerging adults.