Loneliness in young people's health and wellbeing

Loneliness is linked to poor physical and mental health and the importance of social relationships to wellbeing increasingly recognised. Conceptually, little work exists that unpacks how (different groups of) young people experience loneliness and how this shapes their health - despite evidence highlighting that one in ten young people feel lonely often or always.

Contemporary social challenges including COVID-19, cost of living, and social media pressures have aggravated feelings of isolation. Such feelings are not experienced equally with some young people more 'at risk' of isolation because of their social positioning.

Urgent work is needed to understand how young people navigate loneliness and the opportunities for developing belonging and connections in a changing world. This studentship offers an opportunity to develop a study that advances concepts of loneliness and belonging as they relate to young lives and examine the implications for young people's health and wellbeing.