Seven things to know about research and academic thinking on loneliness

By The Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH)

The Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) is excited to be backing Loneliness Awareness Week 2025.

Although loneliness is not a mental health condition, it may contribute to or be an indicator of them, especially if it becomes persistent. Loneliness is the topic of the latest edition of ACAMH’s Mind the Kids podcast. That episode went live Wednesday 11 June with guest Prof Roz Shafran, Emeritus Professor of Translational Psychology at UCL, in conversation with Mind the Kids hosts Dr Jane Gilmour and Prof Umar Toseeb.

Mind the Kids features expert discussions on various topics relevant to child and adolescent mental health, aiming to bridge the gap between research and practice. In that spirit, here are seven key takeaways from the latest episode:

1)    Loneliness is about mismatch, not just social isolation

As discussion during the podcast makes clear, loneliness is not the same as social isolation - although there is a relationship between the two.

In academic literature terms, loneliness is “a subjective or unwelcome feeling or lack or loss of companionship, and it happens when there's a mismatch between the quantity or quality of relationships that we have, and those that we want”, Shafran explained during the episode.

2)    …and as such, it can be hard to spot

“The key with loneliness is that it’s different for different people,” Shafran said. “It’s very heterogenous.”

Somebody might appear to be isolated, but they might not have a problem. “It might be that that child [alone] on the school bench is okay, they don’t have a mismatch… and that’s fine,” she said.

3)    It may particularly likely for teenagers

Thanks to excellent work from campaigners like Marmalade Trust, it is increasingly well understood that loneliness doesn’t just impact people in later life, but those of all ages.

Shafran said that there is evidence that “the desire for relationships might be stronger because of the teenage brain”. This potential predisposition for loneliness among teens may be exacerbated by social media - both the way in which other people present only the positive aspects of their life, and the fact that it may be easy for a teenager to have a wide range of digital relationships, but those relationships may not be as deep and meaningful as people wish.

There are other groups - those with autism, older age groups, and women - who are also particularly likely to experience loneliness, evidence shows. There are also several other genetic, socioeconomic and health factors identified as increasing the likelihood of loneliness.

4)    Screening for loneliness could be a big step forward

Shafran believes there is an argument for routine screening for loneliness, whether that is done through a single question or a more comprehensive tool like the UCLA Loneliness Scale.

“Until you know about it, you don’t get the resources. I think we have to identify what the need is,” she commented. In a paper published in an ACAMH journal in December 2024, the lack of screening was identified by Shafran and colleagues as one of the main barriers to developing interventions for young people with “chronic” loneliness.

5)    …and we need more research on it as a whole

“We have so few randomised, controlled trials focusing directly on loneliness, across the age range, across all different outcomes,” Shafran pointed out.

While there are a number of interventions and tools being developed to support those experiencing loneliness, there is a need for more data on their effectiveness, in order for there to be budget and impetus for them to be adopted widely

6)    We must avoid ‘pathologising’ all loneliness

There is a risk of “pathologising normal experiences”, Shafran warned.

Shafran was certainly not arguing that what she termed “episodic loneliness” should be brushed off or that those experiencing it don’t deserve sympathy and appropriate support. But it is important that there is a distinction between that occasional loneliness, and “chronic loneliness” which may be a symptom and cause of more significant difficulties.

7)    UCL wants to share with you

Shafran and colleagues in the UCL-led Loneliness and Social Isolation in Mental Health Network have developed several modules and resources which can be used in supporting people affected by loneliness. Find out more via the network’s webpage.

Listen to the Loneliness episode of Mind the Kids here.

ACAMH sends its gratitude and respect to Marmalade Trust for overseeing this important week of events - and to all those volunteers, communities, businesses, schools and other groups who are also getting behind it.