The World Health Organization (WHO) considers loneliness a public health problem, and it doesn't have an age limit. Parade spoke with three psychologists, who say that combating adult loneliness is a huge priority in their private practices. Group activities for adults can help.
"Loneliness is not just about being alone," Dr. Gayle MacBride, Ph.D., LP, a psychologist with Veritas Psychology, explains. "It is about lacking meaningful connections with others. Group activities help because they create opportunities for contact and can build belonging through shared experiences, which is exactly what combats the root of loneliness."
Indeed, these group-centered hobbies make for great ways to meet new people, which is clutch. Let's be real: Making friends as an adult is tough.
"Work responsibilities, caregiving roles and busy schedules can leave less time for socializing, even when people want more connection," says Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Ph.D., a psychologist and Hope for Depression Research Foundation media advisor.
But making time for social hobbies is an investment in your social wellness, and you may even experience other psychological benefits of special interests. Dr. MacBride says it's common for adults to feel like they've been "out of the friend-making game" for too long. Yet she says that hobbies often "bring us back to our people" after divorces, when parenting responsibilities ease or when we move past other losses or work stresses.
Unsure where to start? That's common, too. To help, three psychologists share the best group activity for adults, along with three other favorites.
Related: ‘I’m a Psychologist—These Are the 5 Surprising Things I Swear By To Combat Loneliness’
The Best Group Activity for Adults: Pickleball
According to the three psychologists we spoke to, the best group activity for adults is pickleball.
This activity is highly effective because it requires synchronized cooperation, lowers social defenses and accelerates the process of making friends as an adult. It also promotes confidence, cognitive engagement and can help reduce stress.
Related: 13 of the Best Friendship Apps, Because We All Know Making Friends as an Adult Is Hard
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There are many psychological benefits of hobbies, and pickleball exemplifies many of them. The psychologists Parade spoke with love that it combines physical, mental, social and cognitive wellness. It's also fast-growing, with USA Pickleball reporting an increase of more than 104K members in 2025 alone, so there are many potential new friends out there waiting for you on the court. Below, mental health experts discuss the many perks of pickleball.
Pickleball isn't just "tennis-lite." There's some undercover choreography going on, and it can help people connect with themselves and others on both physical and mental levels.
"Pickleball asks people to coordinate attention, timing, space, movement and social cues in real time," Dr. MacBride points out. "In doubles especially, you are reading your partner, anticipating the other side, adjusting your body and getting in sync with another person."
This movement opens doors for bonding and even finding meaning in life.
"Activities that require us to work in synch create bonding opportunities," statesDr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele. "Knowing that someone is relying on you and you can rely on them gives a sense of belonging, fulfilling a human need. Many want to matter, and teamwork provides a chance to do so."
2. Pickleball lowers social defenses
The sport is like a movement-based mocktail—a zero-proof social lubricant, if you will.
"Pickleball is great because it’s not something that most of us got to play in gym class or were captains of our high school teams, which means many of us are still learning," Dr. MacBride notes. "It helps when we all feel new at something. We can laugh about a bad shot, work together on recalling how to call the score and slow things down as you saunter off looking for that errant ball."
If you're playing for fun, she shares that you, your teammates and even your opponents can feel less scrutinized and more available for genuine connections. Of course, for some, trying a new thing is a barrier.
"Adults are often less accustomed to being beginners than children are," Dr. Lira de la Rosa concedes. "That vulnerability can feel uncomfortable, but it is also often where growth and connection begin."
It's not easy to make friends as an adult. Yet Dr. Lira de la Rosa notes that pickleball creates conditions that help friendships develop.
"People often play with different partners, see the same individuals week after week and spend time together before and after games," he states. "These repeated interactions allow relationships to build gradually."
Psychologically, he notes that friendships are important because they provide emotional support, a sense of belonging and companionship, combating adult loneliness.
4. It helps you regulate your mood and stress
Dr. MacBride loves that this group activity combines movement, challenge and novelty—plus sunlight if you're playing outdoors.
"Pickleball is one of those activities that can be serious enough to absorb you and playful enough to make you laugh," she says. "That combination is neurotransmitter gold."
There's something psychologically powerful about being bad at something and sticking with it.
"The process of learning and novelty is good for our brains, but it’s also good for our identities," Dr. MacBride says. "Always being the person who has a handle on things can be exhausting. There’s something very rewarding about being a beginner and not carrying the mental load for everyone else."
6. It promotes cognitive engagement
Dr. MacBride reports that pickleball is more than physical activity—it's a workout for your brain, too.
"There is strategy, anticipation, inhibition and fast-paced decision-making," she says. "You have to be paying attention to read the play, the angle, deciding whether to speed up play or dink and then there’s adjusting to different partners and opponents."
If you're feeling blah, pickleball may be the pick-me-up you need.
"Sometimes, life can feel boring and flat and limited to work, home and sleep," Dr. Leno says. "We need a spark to get us going and growing. When we engage in activities outside of those that are mandatory, we feel free and our thoughts flow more smoothly."
Related: 7 Psychological Benefits of Having a Dog, According to a Psychologist
How To Find Pickleball Groups Near You
Since pickleball is growing so quickly, it's becoming easier to find adult groups. The low level of friction is yet another perk. To find a pickleball group near you, Dr. Lira de la Rosa suggests that you:
Check your local parks and recreation department website.Look for community centers, YMCAs and fitness clubs that offer pickleball.Search local Facebook groups and neighborhood social media pages.Use pickleball-specific websites and apps that list courts and organized play.Ask friends, coworkers or neighbors if they know of local groups.Visit local courts and ask players about beginner-friendly open play sessions.Related: This Is the Best ‘Slow Living’ Hobby for Women Over 50, Psychologists Say
Pickleball is a favorite group activity, but it may not be your top choice. That's OK. Psychologists share their personal runners-up for "best social hobbies for adults," and they may be No. 1 on your list.
1. Community gardening
Plants aren't the only things that can grow when you sign up for a community gardening group—you may develop relationships that bloom, too.
"Community gardening gives people a chance to connect around a shared goal while spending time outdoors," Dr. Lira de la Rosa says. "The activity encourages regular interaction without requiring constant conversation. It can be especially rewarding because people are contributing to something tangible and watching it grow over time."
This one hits all the right notes for Dr. MacBride, who says community choirs and bands often leverage skills or passions you already have but haven't indulged in a while.
"In this kind of setting, everyone is focused on a shared outcome, the group meets regularly and there is a built-in sense of mutual effort," she notes. "For adults who want connection but feel rusty socially, performing musically can be a familiar way to dust off their social skills."
3. Recreational board game groups
These groups are an accessible way to engage in friendly competition without risking an ankle sprain. It's also key for people with existing injuries and mobility issues.
"Board game groups offer a fun and approachable way to meet people," Dr. Lira de la Rosa states. "The games provide a built-in focus, which can reduce social pressure and make conversations feel more natural. They also encourage cooperation, friendly competition and shared experiences, all of which can help strengthen social bonds."
Up Next:
Related: 7 Psychological Benefits of Doing Puzzles, According to a Psychologist
Sources:
Social Isolation and Loneliness. World Health Organization. Annual Growth Reports. USA Pickleball. Dr. Gayle MacBride, Ph.D., LP, is a psychologist with Veritas Psychology.Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Ph.D., a psychologist and Hope for Depression Research Foundation media advisor.Dr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele.Hence then, the article about we asked 3 psychologists what group activity is best for adults they all said the same thing was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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