If the world feels a lot lonelier, it’s not in your head. The research proves it: We’re getting lonelier. The American Perspectives Survey found that the number of Americans with no close friends has quadrupled since 1990. Almost half of Americans reported having three or fewer friends.  Add to this, the average number of people Americans feel they can talk to about important matters has also fallen. Americans are feeling lonelier than ever, and three compounding reasons are usually behind the feelings of isolation.  If the world feels a lot lonelier lately, these 3 reasons are why: 1. Loneliness is contagious eldar nurkovic via Shutterstock A 2009 study out of Framingham, Massachusetts, using data collected from roughly 5,000 people and their offspring found that participants are 52 percent more likely to be lonely if someone they’re directly connected to (such as a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member) is lonely. People who aren’t lonely tend to then become lonelier if they’re around people who are. Why? Lonely people are less able to pick up on …