Publication type
Report
Authors
Publication date
June 15, 2026
Summary:
Boys and young men face specific risks linked to loneliness, yet wider research suggests they may be less likely to report these experiences because of stigma. This means loneliness among this group may be underestimated, despite evidence that it is associated with poorer mental health, social difficulties and harmful behaviours. To better understand the extent and nature of loneliness, isolation and social connection among boys and young men in England, this research draws on national survey data from Understanding Society (waves 14 and 15, collected between 2022 and 2025) and the Mental Health of Children and Young People survey (MHCYP wave 4, collected in 2023). The key messages below summarise the factors most strongly associated with experiences of loneliness and isolation for boys and young men aged 10 to 25 (these associations should not be interpreted as causal relationships).
Subjects
Link
#589085