Study Links Early Loneliness to Lower Employment Prospects

Addressing loneliness in secondary school could have significant economic benefits, researchers suggest.

Lonely secondary school pupils are less likely to have successful careers, with a study linking loneliness at age 12 to reduced employability and lower social status in young adulthood.
The study, conducted by King’s College London and the University of Greenwich, suggests that addressing loneliness early could yield economic benefits through increased productivity.
Researchers used data from the Environmental Risk Longitudinal Twin Study, following 2,232 individuals born in England and Wales during 1994-1995.
The findings highlight the socioeconomic consequences of loneliness, suggesting that it not only harms individuals' chances in life but also has direct costs to the economy.
Experts emphasize the importance of inclusive cultures in schools and colleges to combat loneliness and its long-term impacts on employment prospects.