Research says that most American adults haven’t made a new friend in five years, and yeah, that tracks

Friendships are some of the most rewarding yet elusive relationships in adult life. Meeting new people sometimes feels daunting, if not straight-up impossible. Making new friends is already challenging enough, and when everyone around you seems like they’re either part of an established group or too busy to hang out, it can feel lonely. With all these logistical challenges, it’s not surprising that a new study found the average American hasn’t made a friend in five years.

The Independent reports that OnePoll and Evite conducted a survey of 2,000 Americans, and found that 45% of participants had a hard time making new friends. There were a lot of reasons for this struggle, but one of the most prevalent was introversion, which 42% of respondents cited. Others listed factors like moving to a new city, being busy with family, and not having hobbies that enable them to meet people.

One of the most depressing findings in the study was the fact that, apparently, adults were at their most popular by age 23.

So unfortunately, you might not suddenly blossom into the life of the party in your 30s. But the good news is that nearly 50% of respondents said they still had friends from high school, and 31% said they still had friends from college. In other words, it seems like your older friendships could definitely stand the test of time.

The adult world is a lonely place.

But rest assured, there are many other people out there who feel the same way. This study is a good reason to venture outside of your comfort zone and hang out with someone new. After all, it seems like most of us could use a new friend (or two).