--- title: "REPORT: Connection is a public health priority" description: Coworking spaces are essential against social disconnection by fostering community, belonging, and health. How do you use this in your marketing strategy? image: https://www.coworks.com/hubfs/social%20connection%20in%20american%20report%20hero%20(1).jpg --- false Coworking Research # REPORT: Connection is a public health priority [ DeShawn Brown ](https://www.coworks.com/blog/author/deshawn-brown) Dec 22, 2025 --- If you’re running a coworking space, you’re already on the front lines of one of the biggest social shifts of our time. You don’t just offer a desk and fast Wi-Fi. You offer something a lot more vital: connection. ![Social Connnection in America Repirthttps://socialconnectioninamerica.org/2025-report/](https://www.coworks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Social%20Connnection%20in%20America%20Repirt.png?width=200&height=200&name=Social%20Connnection%20in%20America%20Repirt.png)And according to the new [*2025 Social Connection in America Report*,](https://socialconnectioninamerica.org/2025-report/) the rest of the country is catching up to what you already know: connection is not just good for people. It’s essential. Let’s talk about what this report reveals, and how you can use the data to strengthen your messaging, shape your programming, and remind your members why your space matters. (And since I am more of a technologist than marketer, I asked the Coworks CMO, Lauren Walker, to read the report and offer some insights on how to use the stats in your messaging.) ### Americans are disconnected in ways that go beyond feelings We’ve been talking about loneliness a lot over the last few years. But this report shows that the bigger issue is disconnection on a structural level. - **41% of adults feel lonely at least some of the time** - **39% have only 2 or fewer close relationships** - **72% get together with people they care about *****twice a month or less*** - **67% don’t belong to any club or group** - **58% never volunteer or do something positive with neighbors** That’s not just about emotions. That’s about infrastructure. People are craving more meaningful, more frequent, more human interaction, and coworking spaces are one of the few places delivering that. **How to use this in your messaging:** Yes, you’re building community. But you are also *rebuilding the infrastructure of connection.* That’s bold, and it’s true. ### Connection is a health and productivity asset This report doesn't mince words: lacking social connection increases the risk of early death by **32%**, stroke by **32%**, and dementia by **50%**. That’s on par with smoking and obesity. And if you’re wondering what this means for your members as professionals and entrepreneurs? Social disconnection cost U.S. employers **$154 billion** in avoidable absenteeism in 2020 alone. “Supportive relationships protect our mental well-being, reduce the risk of harm, and foster the trust and cooperation that make communities safer and more resilient.” Your coworking space isn’t a perk. It’s part of the solution. ### **Trust, belonging, and helping each other still matter. And your space proves it.** ![Social Connection quote](https://www.coworks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Social%20Connection%20quote.png?width=300&height=375&name=Social%20Connection%20quote.png)Here’s the good news: 72% of adults report feeling a sense of belonging in their neighborhood. 59% say people generally get along. That’s the ember that can be fanned into a real fire of reconnection. Coworking spaces offer that daily spark of belonging. A shared coffee. A lunch-and-learn. A hallway hello. Those moments  “build culture” and rebuild lives. “Most Americans are objectively disengaged from their communities. But nearly half say people in their neighborhood can be trusted. These are building blocks we can grow from.” ### Reframe your marketing: sell connection, not just space Lauren has some ideas how you can use this data in your messaging: **Position your space as the antidote to isolation.**** **“Tired of working alone? We’re designed for people who want more than a desk.” **Use health-focused language in B2B outreach.**** **“Disconnection hurts productivity. Our space builds trust and resilience—for teams and individuals.” **Celebrate your members’ stories.**** **Use testimonials and interviews to spotlight moments of connection: “I met my cofounder here” or “This space is my creative home.” **Lean into local.**** **People still feel tied to their neighborhood. Market yourself as a community hub where that local spirit thrives. ### A final thought from me, founder to operator If you’ve felt like connection is your “soft value,” I want you to know that it’s actually your strongest one. The Coworks platform exists to help you run your space more efficiently, so you can focus on what really matters: creating the space where people find each other. This report validates what many of us have felt in our bones: the world is lonely. But your coworking space is one of the few places actively making it better. Keep doing that work. And if we can help you power it, we’d love to talk. **TL;DR takeaways for your next Instagram caption, newsletter, or pitch deck:** - 72% of adults get together with close relationships 2x/month or less. Your space brings people together *every day. * - 41% of Americans feel lonely at least sometimes. Your space offers *real belonging. * - Disconnection increases risk of death, stroke, and dementia. You offer *connection that protects health. * - 67% don’t belong to any groups. You provide a *community people can count on.* Let’s keep building spaces where connection is a feature and a foundation. COWORKING SOFTWARE ## See how it works, on your own time Watch an on demand demo of the Coworks software platform when it fits your day. [ WATCH NOW ](https://www.coworks.com/watch-a-demo) ![watch-demo-page-graphic-a-girl-on-a-laptop-working-happily](https://www.coworks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Banner%20Graphics/watch-demo-page-graphic-a-girl-on-a-laptop-working-happily.png?width=960&height=991&name=watch-demo-page-graphic-a-girl-on-a-laptop-working-happily.png) [Coworking Research](https://www.coworks.com/blog/tag/coworking-research) ## Similar posts How to use Coworks Software ### [How to use a Day Pass as lead generation for your coworking space](https://www.coworks.com/blog/how-to-use-a-day-pass-as-lead-generation-for-your-coworking-space) Gyms and other fitness centers do the same thing. Often they’ll offer a 7-day pass, which is also something you could consider for your coworking... L Walker Aug 11, 2021 Coworking Influencer ### [Your CRM is a goldmine and AI your prospector (WEBINAR)](https://www.coworks.com/blog/your-crm-is-a-goldmine-and-ai-your-prospector-webinar) How can AI transform your coworking space's CRM into a powerful lead conversion tool? DeShawn Brown and David Walker use AI in this hands on webinar. Lauren Walker Aug 13, 2025 Coworking Business Tips ### [Bring a photography coworking space into focus](https://www.coworks.com/blog/photography-coworking-space) How do you create a photography based coworking space? Let's look at best practices to welcome visual artists into your community to grow their... L Walker Jul 12, 2023 ## Give yourself the tour then get in touch. [Watch A Demo ](https://www.coworks.com/watch-a-demo) ![](https://www.coworks.com/hubfs/Group2.svg) ![](https://www.coworks.com/hubfs/Group2eye.svg) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "DeShawn Brown", "url" : "https://www.coworks.com/blog/author/deshawn-brown" }, "dateModified" : "2025-12-22T15:30:05.368Z", "datePublished" : "2025-12-22T15:30:05.000Z", "headline" : "REPORT: Connection is a public health priority", "image" : [ "https://www.coworks.com/hubfs/social%20connection%20in%20american%20report%20hero%20(1).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.coworks.com/blog/report-connection-is-a-public-health-priority", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.coworks.com/hubfs/Coworks%20Main%20Logo-1.svg" }, "name" : "Coworks" } } ```