Answer: A face-to-face conversation with another person.
Clues: ”Talk” and “To”
The research, conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Zumba, polled 2,000 British adults and found that a staggering 40% have gone at least three days without a face-to-face conversation with another person. 28%t reported feeling lonely while at a social event, and a quarter have felt isolated at their workplace.
This “lonely in a crowd” phenomenon seems to hit young adults the hardest, with 60% of those between 18 and 24 reporting feelings of loneliness. Women were also more likely to feel this way than men.
Keeping these emotions bottled up can take a serious toll. The study found that loneliness negatively impacts confidence, anxiety levels, and sleep for many people. 42% said their sleep worsens when they feel lonely, and 29% see themselves as less attractive. Diet also takes a hit for three in 10 lonely individuals.
43% of respondents believe that bonding with someone through a shared experience would make them feel less alone. A third said that being part of a community or group or achieving a personal accomplishment could help alleviate loneliness.