The End of Friendship As We Know It

While friendships are a key measure of happiness, more Americans than ever report having no friends at all.

Even prior to the house arrest, the role of friendships in American social life was waning. That finding is the result of a recent survey on American friendships. According to the survey, fewer Americans now claim to have a BFF. Just imagine Thelma trying that epic road trip without Louise.

The main culprit for the lack of “best friends” is time. Americans are busy. Or at least we seem to be. And, life seems to get busier as we age. Our friendships take a backseat to nearly every one else in our orbit: spouses, parents, children, grandchildren. You get the point.

“Best friends are the people in your life who make you laugh louder, smile brighter and live better.”

— Unknown

The secondary culprit is self-reliance. That is, Americans are simply not engaging friends for emotional support. The trend is concerning when you consider that deep friendships are proven to enrich your life and improve your health.