Research Shows Teen Loneliness Heightens Reward-Seeking Behavior After Short Isolation

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge reveals that adolescents experience a significant increase in their motivation to seek rewards following just a few hours of social isolation. While this heightened drive may serve an evolutionary purpose—encouraging reconnecting with others—it can also pose risks. When opportunities for social interaction are limited, teens may turn to less healthy sources of rewards, such as alcohol or recreational drugs.

The research underscores the relationship between loneliness and reward-seeking in young people. Participants, aged 16 to 19, underwent experiments where they spent three to four hours alone in a controlled setting. On one occasion, they had no social contact at all; on another, they could engage in virtual social interactions via their smartphones or laptops. Results indicated that adolescents with access to virtual communication spent more time online and showed increased motivation to pursue rewarding stimuli, like social images or monetary rewards.

Interestingly, teens who felt lonelier during the isolation showed even greater reward-seeking behavior. Conversely, those who maintained social contact through social media reported feeling less lonely and exhibited less dramatic increases in their reward motivation. Despite reduced feelings of boredom and loneliness when connected online, participants still experienced a decline in positive mood, similar to those without social access.

The findings emphasize the fundamental human need for social connection and provide insights into how brief periods of loneliness can influence adolescent behavior. The study, published in ommunications Psychology, was led by Dr. Livia Tomova, who noted the high sensitivity of young people to short-term isolation and its potential to drive riskier behaviors when social opportunities are scarce.

Research suggests that adolescent loneliness has doubled globally over the past decade, with social media often implicated. However, experts caution that the relationship between digital interaction and loneliness is complex. Virtual social contact can reduce feelings of loneliness and lessen the drive for external rewards, yet it may also carry its own potential harms.

The study involved extensive screening of local youths in Cambridge, UK, ensuring participants had stable social connections and no mental health issues. During testing, teens either experienced total social deprivation or had access to virtual social interactions while isolated. The findings highlight that even short-term loneliness can significantly influence reward-related behaviors, which can have both adaptive and maladaptive consequences.

More information and the full study can be found in the journal ommunications Psychology, with insights from senior author Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, emphasizing the nuanced effects of social media and loneliness on adolescent mental health.