Many discussions have spread throughout the world about male loneliness in the 21st century. The world is starting to see the effects of social media, which is causing social isolation and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns. In a 2022 study, 15% of men claimed to have no close friends, this statistic has risen 12% from 1990 . A significant rise from 3% to 15%.
The more isolated men become, the higher the probability that they can develop mental health disorders. With these factors, addiction also becomes a concern, since it can be used as an escape or coping method.
Is the Male Loneliness Epidemic a Real Thing?
Recently, the male loneliness epidemic has been trending due to a large number of men experiencing disproportionate loneliness that is causing adverse effects on their physical and mental health.
When young men begin to experience loneliness, it can manifest in different types of behavior. Some may become more withdrawn, socially anxious, and fearful. Others might begin to exhibit aggressive behaviors while isolating themselves from friends and diving deeper into internet wormholes. It can also manifest in increased stress and difficulty concentrating, which can affect school or work.
The loneliness rates between men and women aren’t too drastically different; overall, 57% of men and 59% of women felt lonely . The main difference is that men do not seek help or reach out to anyone close to them to aid their lonely moments, while many women do. The societal expectation for men to hold back from showing emotions can leave you feeling even more isolated, with no one to turn to. The thing is that healing is not done alone. In fact, healing is done within the community.
The male loneliness epidemic has become a conversation in many different social circles due to:
- Overall, there has been more emphasis on mental health awareness and work being done to end mental health stigma
- Troubling statistics and research have shown that male loneliness can lead to depression, substance abuse, and increased suicide rates
- Evolving trends in traditional masculinity have shed light on the fact that rigid gender roles can limit emotional expression and prevent men from seeking the help they need
- There has been an overall decline in the typical spaces where male bonding occurs and an increase in online interaction
- COVID-19 magnified isolation for many people and put a spotlight on loneliness in general
Are Young Men More at Risk?
Young men are considered more vulnerable to loneliness compared to older men, especially with the rise of social media use. Connection with other people is at an all-time low, and COVID only amplified this issue. When the 2020 pandemic occurred, people quickly experienced little to no in-person daily interaction almost overnight.
Once the quarantines were lifted, it was difficult to acclimate back to everyday life, especially since everyone’s energy batteries weren’t able to run as well as they used to. This meant not having the capacity to be social after work, or the capacity to socialize at all.
Many people continued to stay at home and became accustomed to not interacting with others in person, and instead turned to online entertainment as well as parasocial connections with online personalities .
When this seems to be the normal way to cope, without the knowledge of how to build up to actively being social again, it breeds loneliness. Coupled with the fact that men (especially young men) don’t commonly feel comfortable asking for help, it means battling these feelings alone.
What Does Male Loneliness Look Like?
When young men experience loneliness, the traits perceived by others can be misconstrued. Some may assume they are lazy, but in reality, they are suffering from an overwhelming mental load, withdrawing, becoming more isolated, and keeping to themselves while having no energy to complete tasks. Others might be rebelling while participating in concerning activities, which can be a manifestation of restlessness and channeling energy into disruptive avenues.
These warning signs tend to be missed by families since terms like lazy or rebellious can be a sweeping assumption of what may really be happening.
Why is Male Loneliness Increasing?
There are many factors as to why male loneliness is increasing, including societal factors and cultural expectations.
Societal Factors
The most prominent societal factor that contributes to male loneliness is the breakdown of traditional community structures. This has slowly been happening over the span of years, but it’s recently become apparent how much progress has been made due to the jarring reality for most men. Being raised with societal norms of an idea of how men should be, how they should talk and act, and progress in life can be different .
Cultural Expectations
Traditional masculinity ideals have an emphasis on self-reliance, which contributes to the hesitancy of seeking help. The social pressures of masculinity tend to discourage emotional vulnerability. Due to this, the term toxic masculinity has been thrown around, and men lack a community of male role models that can make men think differently.
What is the Main Cause of Male Loneliness?
Finding Community in Unhealthy Spaces
As you become isolated, finding validation about why you may be lonely in this changing world becomes a need. The quickest way to find validation is through an online space. Discussion forums, gaming chat rooms, Discord or Twitch chat rooms, podcasts, and live streams have all been places men are finding community online with other men.
While these avenues for connection can foster community and support, many include harsh emotional and psychological environments of teasing, name-calling, bullying, sexism, racism, homophobia, and more. Finding controversial communities and content creators who might share similar sentiments can be a dangerous path.
The more these communities make you feel seen and understood, the quicker you feel connected to these spaces, without critically thinking about it as a whole. These communities tend to reinforce unhealthy attitudes and behaviors, while many men fail to participate in their offline lives, perpetuating loneliness.
Mental Health Implications of Loneliness
There are various mental health implications when dealing with loneliness. Normally, depression can develop, along with anxiety. These mental health conditions can become very serious if left untreated. They also contribute to continuously staying in isolation, since a common symptom of these conditions is withdrawing from social situations.
The emotional pain from battling these mental health conditions, coupled with loneliness, can increase the likelihood of substance abuse as self-medication for emotional pain is common. Left untreated, loneliness can lead to depression, sickness, and even suicide.
Related: Understanding the Link Between Mental Health and Addiction
How to Deal with Loneliness: The New Life House Approach
Creating Genuine Community
At New Life House, we understand how difficult it can be to navigate loneliness. Our program is age-specific to young men, so you’re surrounded by peers and feel like a place where you can relate to each other and foster authentic connections.
Shared experiences in recovery tend to create lasting bonds, which help build your support network and bring you out of feelings of loneliness. Even after leaving our recovery house, we have an active alumni community that ensures continued community support for everyone.
Building Life Skills & Healthy Relationships
During your time in New Life House, you’ll be able to learn how to communicate and socialize more easily with your peers. You’ll receive education on healthy partnerships, relationships, and the importance of consent. Additionally, you’ll be taught about emotional intelligence and vulnerability, and feel more comfortable being vulnerable with the support of your peers. The life skills you learn in the program help you build your confidence and self-worth, which you can utilize throughout your life.
Related: Building Primary Life Skills For Teens
Educational & Vocational Development
Our team helps you complete any educational benchmarks that may have been interrupted by your loneliness symptoms. We help you with high school completion programs, college preparation, and vocational training. We can also help with job placement assistance. Giving you the useful tools to utilize far beyond our program.
Related: What is a Sober House and How Can it Transform Your Life?
Healthy Hobbies & Connection
We believe in building healthy habits and hobbies. We provide plenty of structured recreational activities that help foster teamwork and connection. This also helps young men become introduced to new, diverse hobbies that they can continue post-recovery.
Cultivating interests that connect men with broader communities will give them tools to use for the future when searching for connection. They will also learn to use physical activity as a tool to help improve mental health and well-being while building camaraderie with their peers.
For Parents: Recognizing and Addressing Male Loneliness
If you feel your son or loved one is isolating frequently, is missing developmental milestones, or is exhibiting concerning behavior due to his loneliness, it might be time to get help. Intervention, before unhealthy coping mechanisms develop too far, can prevent your loved one from more severe consequences in the future.
Traditional ways of dealing with loneliness, such as staying silent or acting strong, are not healthy or successful approaches to mental health issues. New Life House is here to repair relationships not only with you and your loved one, but also the relationship they have with themselves.
Related: When Every Rehab Program and Sober Living Has Let You Down, Try This
Call New Life House Today
The male loneliness epidemic is a real crisis, with severe consequences if left unchecked. Whether that be erratic behavior, falling into red pilling, or addiction, it can be prevented or helped with proper care. Addressing symptoms of loneliness while creating community is the key to successful recovery.
If you are concerned about your son, reach out to us today. New Life House is ready to help young men be the best versions of themselves while they build the community they have been waiting for. Contact us today to learn more about how our sober living in Los Angeles, CA, can help.
References:
- Luse, B. (2025, February 17). The men’s loneliness epidemic might not exist. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/17/1263527043/its-been-a-minute-male-loneliness-epidemic-real
- The male loneliness epidemic – The Western Howl. (n.d.). https://wou.edu/westernhowl/the-male-loneliness-epidemic/
- What is Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and How Can We Fix It? (2024, October 25). Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/24/10/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-it
- The male loneliness epidemic – The Western Howl. (n.d.-b). https://wou.edu/westernhowl/the-male-loneliness-epidemic/
- Statista. (2023, November 29). Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely December 2021, by gender. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1420227/loneliness-among-adults-us-by-gender/
Last Updated on May 9, 2025
