Center for Civic Friendship: The Cure for Loneliness

Mary Jane Rein and Emmilyn Fini

Guest Writers

College is typically a time for young people to forge connections that have the potential to evolve into cherished, lifelong bonds. Yet, many young people struggle to make friends and isolate themselves from peers and others on campus. Citing the experiences of college students, the former surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy popularized the idea that there is an epidemic of loneliness that poses risks to Americans of all ages.

Large scale studies have affirmed the connection between social isolation and poor outcomes related to mental and physical health. “Just like exercise and nutrition, our relationships with one another are fundamental components of our overall health and well-being,” Dr. Murthy declared as he prepared to launch a tour of college campuses around the U.S. in 2023.

The gap between the desire for social contact and the ability to meet that need through rewarding interpersonal connections is one way to define loneliness. Current college students who missed out on many milestones that define high school may find they lack the skills or practice needed to interact successfully. As a result, they may not pursue the social and extracurricular opportunities available to them on campus. Even if they routinely attend classes and complete their coursework, they are neglecting to engage fully in college life. And some students who participate in many aspects of campus life may still feel that they lack meaningful connections.

Lack of companionship can make students susceptible to an over reliance on social media, which is addictive for some and can deepen feelings of despair. Doom scrolling tends to reinforce negative feelings and ideas that are dangerous to mental well-being.

Rising rates of anxiety and depression had already been contributing to a crisis in mental health before the pandemic exacerbated these issues. With the launch of the Center for Civic Friendship, we hope to collaborate with offices across campus, including Residential Life, Student Success, Counseling, and Community Service, to better understand and find solutions that address loneliness.

An April 3 lunchtime talk, presented in partnership with the Honors Program, will bring the Harvard Medical School philosopher Ian Marcus Corbin to campus to present “How Shared Meaning and Purpose Can Make Us Less Lonely.” Professor Corbin will explain how the pursuit of shared purpose and a commitment to performing meaningful tasks can ameliorate the crisis of loneliness. He has written about how solving this issue is not only about personal self-improvement, but also finding societal solutions that restore a sense of both agency and belonging.

Professor Corbin highlighted the need to engage deeply with activities that are imbued with purpose and meaning. As he writes in the July 2024 issue of Commonweal Magazine, “When you and I value the same things, and pursue those things together, what might have been a competitive, zero-sum relationship becomes one of solidarity—of shared risk and reward, of mutual aid, even of loving care or shared identity.” That is the essence of civic friendship and what we seek to cultivate among students in the inaugural cohort of Civic Friendship scholars. They will enter Assumption in fall 2025 with a focus on activities that contribute toward strengthening the commitment “to pursue truth in the company of friends.”

This cure for loneliness won’t materialize immediately, but gradually, through attention to the common good, we can truly make a difference in the lives of all the members of our community.

To attend the April 3 lecture, please register:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Uuw-Z7vaWUKAk3P3L9rOgNn26QlajuZDttEL0xutfA5UQTVSTktTVzYwWUw2N1M0RU9OS0RVSjYwSC4u