Lonely Planet Sometimes it seems like we’re all friends on Facebook. But the sad truth is that Americans are lonelier than ever. Between 1985 and 2004, the number of people who said they felt lonely tripled, to 25 percent, according to Duke University researchers. Social isolation in all adults has been linked to sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of depression and suicide, says John T. Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago. Though more Americans than ever are living alone, the connection between single -living and loneliness is in fact quite weak. "Some of the most profound loneliness can happen when other people are present," says Harry Reis, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. Take college freshmen: even though they’re surrounded by people almost all the time, many feel incredibly isolated during the first quarter of the school year, Cacioppo says. By the second quarter, however, most freshmen have found social replacements for their high - school friends. So how many friends do you need to avoid loneliness There is no magic number. An introvert might need one confidante not to feel lonely, whereas an extrovert might require three, or four bosom buddies. Experts say it’s not the quantity of social relationships but the quality that really matters. "The most popular kid in school may still feel lonely," Cacioppo says. "There ore a lot of stars who have been idols and lived lonely lives. " Loneliness can be relative: it has been defined as an emotional response to a perceived discrepancy between a person’s desired levels of social interaction and the contact they’re actually receiving. People tend to measure themselves against others, feeling particularly alone in communities where social connection is the norm. Social- networking sites like Facebook and My Space may provide people with a false sense of connection that ultimately increases loneliness in people who feel alone. "These sites should serve as a supplement, but not replacement for, face - to - face interaction. Just being able to engage genuinely and politely with your neighbors is a better fix than texting could ever effect for mental stability. " Cacioppo says. According to the last paragraph, which one of the following satements is right
A．The more people you know, the less lonely you will feel. B．The more popular you are, the less lonely you will feel. C．A real confidantes can reduce the feeling of loneliness. D．Usually, people who have more than 4 friends are not likely to feel lonely.