The Loneliness Epidemic: Challenges Faced by Young Men
Editor Notes

A topic that has garnered much attention in recent years is loneliness. Everyone at one point in their life has felt lonely—sad because they felt isolated and had no one (or extremely few) people to turn to. The ironic realization that in a world where we are now able to connect more than ever through online interactions has actually increased individuals’ feelings of loneliness is one that can feel counterintuitive. Before exploring the reasons why so many people feel lonely—especially young adults and even more specifically young men—it is worth understanding the different types of loneliness. Collective loneliness is usually satiated by belonging to a large community like your school, your place of worship, or anywhere else where you share a common identity with a large group of people. Many people who take steps to feel less lonely will join a collective because it is a way to reduce loneliness that is most in their control. Relational loneliness is felt when someone wants friends from the spaces they regularly occupy—friends to see often and rely on for help. Someone experiencing relational loneliness might know a lot of people, and might even have a full social calendar, but they will say, “I don’t feel like I have any friends”. Intimate loneliness is felt when someone wants a significant other, best friend, or otherwise some other person to rely on for emotional support. Relational and intimate loneliness are the dimensions of focus as the topic is discussed because it is both valued more highly and harder to resolve.

Earlier this year, the United States surgeon general declared loneliness a nationwide epidemic. But instead of elaborating on all the different ways loneliness has proliferated in our broader society, let us learn why young men are particularly at risk. Young adults (18-25) are the age demographic that report the highest ratings of loneliness. This is because (except for adolescence) emerging adulthood is the stage in life where the desire to be accepted by other people is greatest. So if someone is anxious about the degree to which they are accepted, or they do not feel accepted at all, it can be very isolating. Additionally, young adults as an age group by and large experience significant life changes most often (e.g., living away from home for the first time, going to college, serious romantic relationships, potentially getting married and/or having children). The early years of adulthood come with a lot of ‘firsts” and changes. With these changes, it can be difficult to maintain and nurture lasting connections with people.

Why is it, then, that men are more at risk? Based on self-report measures, men often report having fewer friends and social connections to rely on than women; 15% say they have no close friends at all. It has to do with the culture we have curated. Masculinity is associated with individualism and independence; men are not supposed to need or rely on others. Having this concept of masculinity prevents closer relationships between men from forming. This widely-held belief is the reason woman-woman interpersonal relationships tend to be stronger than man-man ones. Young men need to have positive models of healthy masculinity. Young men need someone to show them the difference between being protective and being aggressive, someone to show them that there is strength in vulnerability, someone to give them the courage to face their emotions rather than avoiding them. Generally, young men learn what it means to be a man and how to express masculinity from their fathers or prominent male figures in their lives. But what happens when one is absent or the role model himself does not
have a healthy concept of masculinity?

Human beings have a psychological need for a sense of connection. Without it, people are more likely to develop internalizing issues such as anxiety or depression, or other deficits such as dementia, heart failure, stroke, or premature death. I would say it is impossible to absolve your loneliness by yourself; naturally, you need other people that are willing and able to support you to reduce the pang of loneliness. In order to gain more satisfaction from your relationships, you must be prepared to open up—share your fears and desires. It all boils down to being true to who you are. When you demonstrate authenticity,
you attract people who like you for who you really are.

Trending Topics

Features

Download and distribute powerful vaccination QI resources for your community.

Sign up now to support health equity and sustainable health outcomes in your community.

MCED tests use a simple blood draw to screen for many kinds of cancer at once.

FYHN is a bridge connecting health information providers to BIPOC communities in a trusted environment.

Discover an honest look at our Medicare system.

ARC was launched to create a network of community clinicians to diversify and bring clinical trials to communities of color and other communities that have been underrepresented.

The single most important purpose of our healthcare system is to reduce patient risk for an acute event.

Related Posts
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease

pubmed

AI at the Crossroads of Health Equity
Erica Daily
FDA Approves LEQEMBI IQLIK: First At-Home Injection for Alzheimer’s Maintenance Therapy
FYH Team
Scroll to Top
Featured Articles
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher ...

pubmed

Artificial intelligence in healthcare highlighting disparities and opportunities for minority communities.
AI at the Crossroads of Health Equity
Erica Daily
LEQEMBI-IQLIK-Autoinjector-Alzheimers-Treatment _ Senior in couch smiling
FDA Approves LEQEMBI IQLIK: First At-Home Injection for Alzheimer’s Maintenan...
FYH Team
Fidelis Care Maternal Grants Expand Postpartum Health
Fidelis Care Maternal Grants Expand Postpartum Health

investorshangout

Health leaders launch new Latino-focused data hub to combat NIH budget cuts
Hispanic Health Institute Launches to Address Disparities

clickondetroit

Sickle Cell in the Black Community
Sickle Cell Disease: The Impact on the Black Community
Categories
AI
BIPOC News
Cancer
Clinical Trials
Diseases of the Body
Environment
Health Data
Health Equity Events
Health Policy
Heart Health
kidney Health
LGBTQ Health
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our latest news​
All Stories
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher ...

pubmed

Artificial intelligence in healthcare highlighting disparities and opportunities for minority communities.
AI at the Crossroads of Health Equity
Erica Daily
LEQEMBI-IQLIK-Autoinjector-Alzheimers-Treatment _ Senior in couch smiling
FDA Approves LEQEMBI IQLIK: First At-Home Injection for Alzheimer’s Maintenan...
FYH Team
BIPOC News
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher ...

pubmed

Sickle Cell in the Black Community
Sickle Cell Disease: The Impact on the Black Community
African American Mental Health
Caregiver and Birth Parent Influences on Depression and Anxiety in African Am...

pubmed

Environment
Hurricane Katrina Anniversary 20 Years Later in New Orleans fyh.news
Hurricane Katrina Anniversary: 20 Years Later in New Orleans

democracynow

energy poverty crisis
Federal Cuts to Energy Assistance Programs Further Crisis in Maryland

citybuzz.co

UCLA Climate Dashboard Highlights Latino Climate Inequity | fyh.news
UCLA Climate Dashboard Highlights Latino Climate Inequity | fyh.news

dailybruin

Work Force
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher ...

pubmed

set of hands from different races
How Diversity in Health Care Improves Patient Outcomes
A group of diverse nursing students smiling on campus in Michigan, representing top accredited nursing programs in 2025
Top Nursing Schools in Michigan – Explore Accredited BSN & MSN Programs

allnurses

Clinical Trials
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease
Racial/Ethnic Minorities have Greater Declines in Sleep Duration with Higher ...

pubmed

ID 225485086 © Piyapong Thongcharoen | Dreamstime.com
AAP Breaks with Federal Guidance, Recommends COVID-19 Shots for Healthy Young...

Community health worker speaking with an elder in a diverse neighborhood, representing racial and Indigenous health equity outreach.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation invites applications for research to advance r...

philanthropynewsdigest

Vaccines and Outbreaks
dreamstime_s_255228734
Your Child’s Doctor May Now Recommend Covid Shots – Here’s Why
ID 225485086 © Piyapong Thongcharoen | Dreamstime.com
AAP Breaks with Federal Guidance, Recommends COVID-19 Shots for Healthy Young...

Illustration of a multicultural team of doctors and nurses caring for newborns in a hospital nursery, symbolizing RSV immunization and health equity.
Shielding Newborns: How Hospitals Can Close the RSV Protection Gap
Other Categories
AI
Cancer
Read the latest Cancer stories trending around the world
Diseases of the Body
Read about the latest Diseases of the Body trending around the world
Friday Webinars
Every Friday, we bring you insightful webinars covering critical topics in healthcare, data equity, and policy reform.
Health Data
Read the latest Health Data stories trending around the world
Health Equity Events
Read the best Health Equity Events around the country.
Health Policy
Read the latest Health Policy stories trending around the world
Heart Health
Read the latest on Heart Health News, Stories and Tips.
kidney Health
Read more trending News about Kidney Health, Stories and Tips.
LGBTQ Health
Read the latest LGBTQ Health stories trending around the world
Lift Every Voice Patient Network
Mental Health
Read the latest Mental Health stories trending around the world