Evidence base
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, via Washington University in St. Louis
Loneliness, Depression and Generalized Anxiety Across Eight Countries
What it found
A study across eight countries found that nearly half of young adults report experiencing loneliness. The association between loneliness and both depression and generalized anxiety persisted after adjusting for demographics and prior diagnoses.
Why it matters for practice
The cross-national scope and the adjustment for prior diagnoses strengthen the case that loneliness tracks with mental health outcomes independent of who is already more vulnerable, which matters for anyone designing youth-facing programmes or making the case to funders that loneliness is a target in its own right, not just a symptom of existing conditions.