Why men struggle to make friends as they age
Left to right, Brett Woollum, Rob Reger, Todd Stuart, Jonathan Mandel and Ryan Carroll talk at a Men’s Circle gathering at Tilden Park in Berkeley.
TL;DR
- The number of close friendships among American men has drastically decreased over the last 30 years.
- Lack of social connection has adverse health effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
- Factors like population mobility, changing life activities, and generational barriers to vulnerability contribute to difficulty in forming friendships.
- The pandemic further impacted men's ability to maintain friendships, especially for working-class men.
- Maintaining friendships is associated with lower risks of dementia, depression, heart disease, and stroke, and leads to longer, better lives.
- Groups like the Men's Circle and Black Men Run offer structured environments for men to build connections.
- Simple strategies, like inviting an acquaintance to an already planned activity, can help foster new friendships.