Abstract
Loneliness is a growing global concern, with nearly one in four adults reporting feeling very or somewhat lonely in 2023 (Maese, 2023). The U.S. Surgeon General equates its health risks to smoking 15 cigarettes daily, with young adults aged 18–24 reporting the highest loneliness rates (79%) in the U.S. (Morning Consult, 2021). The Healthy Minds National Report for 2023-2024 states 44% of college students feel left out some of the time and 23% feel left out often. Similarly, 40% of college students report a lack of companionship some of the time and 21% report a lack of companionship often. The Happy-to-Chat Bench initiative, a simple public bench intervention, aims to address the loneliness and isolation students may feel by encouraging small talk in low-pressure settings.
Recommended Citation
Shin, Yongjun
(2025).
The Happy-to-Chat Bench Project at Bridgewater State University.
Bridgewater Review, 43(2), 26.
Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol43/iss2/24