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Do you find that as you get older you have fewer and fewer friends, and it gets harder and harder to make new ones? Well, you are definitely not alone.
A new survey of Americans 55 and older finds:
- The average person over 55 has just four reliable friends.
- 77% say their social circle has gotten smaller as they’ve gotten older.
- 48% say they’ve stopped being friends with at least three people in the last two years.
- And losing friends is making 19% of people feel lonely more than half the week.
But many don’t think it’s a lost cause.
- In fact, 83% of people believe it’s never too late to make friends.
- 70% of those polled say they really want to make new friends.
- 55% say it’s important to find someone who likes the same tings as you.
- 50% want a friend to have a great conversation with.
- 49% want to meet someone with similar life experiences.
- 40% want a friend to be active with.
And it certainly sounds like finding new friends could be good for your health as you get older.
- 64% of people believe they’d be more physically active if they had a buddy to do it with.
- 46% of people have actually made a new friend while being active.
- 37% say it can be lonely being active all by themselves.
- 60% of people would be willing to try out a new activity if they didn’t have to do it alone.
- Specifically, some folks are hoping to make new friends through:
- Walking or hiking (48%)
- Swimming (32%)
- Strength and conditioning classes (31%)
Source: SWNS Digital