THE FUSE

As many as 69 percent of Americans don’t feel they are getting enough emotional support. There are several reasons for this discrepancy. Participation in organized activities, including religious gatherings, is on the decline, and many communities lack accessible public or civic venues where people can routinely meet. While electronic forms of communication can facilitate connections, they also make it easier to stay home and to avoid personal encounters. Rising numbers of Americans also live alone, and only half of us say we live within an hour's drive of extended family members. The result is that many of us feel lonely, even when surrounded by people.