A recent study by King’s College London has shown that children who experience loneliness and isolation during their early secondary school years are more likely to become Neets by the age of 18 – meaning they are not in employment, education, or training. The research revealed that 12-year-olds who were the most isolated had over double the chances of being Neet later on.
The study defined social isolation as a lack of positive social relationships or having limited social networks with few interactions. Surprisingly, the research found that those who were lonely and isolated at 12 tended to remain isolated at 18, regardless of their initial loneliness status.
This study comes on the heels of a report by former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn, warning about the potential £125 billion economic impact of not addressing this issue. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to tackle the Neet crisis and recently introduced new technical education pathways for 14-year-olds to combat the problem.
Researchers emphasized that addressing isolation during early adolescence could not only benefit young individuals but also have broader economic advantages by boosting productivity. Dr. Bridget Bryan, the lead author of the study, highlighted the long-term impact of social isolation on young people’s employment opportunities, emphasizing the need to address this issue to improve their chances in the job market.
Dr. Timothy Matthews, the co-author of the study and a psychology lecturer at the University of Greenwich, noted that loneliness can create a cycle of isolation, making it challenging for young people to reconnect with others. The findings suggest that simply assuming lonely individuals will seek social connections may not be effective, especially for those who are most in need of support.
