Building and maintaining friendships as an adult comes with unique challenges. Busy schedules, life transitions, and the demands of family or work can limit opportunities to connect. Additionally, making new friends can feel daunting due to social anxiety, fear of rejection, or lack of confidence.
There’s a scientific reason it’s so difficult to make friends as an adult according to University of Maryland psychologist Marisa Franco. “Sociologists have kind of identified the ingredients that need to be in place for us to make friends organically, and they are continuous unplanned interaction and shared vulnerability.” says Franco. “As we become adults, we have less and less environments where those ingredients are at play.”
If you find yourself struggling to build or nurture adult friendships, know that you aren’t alone. Per a recent article at Vox.com, a 2024 survey by the American Psychiatric Association survey found that 30 percent of Americans aged 18 to 34 said they were lonely at least several times a week and a 2023 University of Michigan poll found that 37 percent of US adults aged 50-80 reported a lack of companionship over the last year. Multiple outlets like NPR, USA Today, and VOX have declared that America has a loneliness epidemic.