A Better Solution to Loneliness: Ties on the Fringe

Key points

Loneliness is fundamentally harmful to psychological and physical health.

Developing close ties demands time, emotion, and investment, resources which may be in short supply

We can form relationships on the fringe of closeness as we simply go about activities in daily life.

Fringe-ships offer a sense of belonging, fondness, and validation at a low emotional cost.

If you’re feeling lonely, you’re not alone. The US is facing an epidemic of loneliness . On any given day, one in five Americans feels isolated; that’s over 60 million lonely people. Loneliness is painful and puts people at risk of psychological and physical health problems; lonely people even die younger . The antidote to loneliness seems simple: just connect with someone. But loneliness, by definition, involv