R&D PROJECTS

Project

FY2024

Co-producing Loneliness Prevention Strategies with Young People: Understanding and Developing Prevention for Youth Loneliness

Principal Investigator: YAMASAKI Syudo

Investigator, Research Center for Social Science & Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science

co-production, school climate, youth cohort, evidence-based intervention

R&D Period: 2024.10–2028.3

researchmap

Project Overview

The rapid rise of loneliness among young people in a changing world

In today’s rapidly evolving society, driven by the expansion of social networking services and the impact of global pandemics, loneliness among young people is becoming an increasingly urgent issue. Prolonged loneliness during youth can have lasting negative effects on mental and physical health as individuals transition into adulthood. Additionally, in the context of declining birth rates, youth loneliness poses a significant challenge to societal sustainability, making the need for effective solutions more pressing than ever.
Recent scientific research has demonstrated that improving the school environment can greatly enhance young people’s mental health and has the potential to prevent loneliness. However, for this approach to be successfully implemented, it is crucial to incorporate young people’s perspectives and make their often invisible experiences of loneliness more tangible. Furthermore, effective prevention strategies must be developed in collaboration with young people themselves.

Visualizing the ‘invisible’ loneliness of young people through data and co-production

Our project seeks to prevent loneliness and foster school environments that minimize its occurrence by employing a ‘co-production’ approach with young people.

Key Approaches

Co-Production with Young People

We will work closely with young people to identify the factors contributing to loneliness in today’s social environment and collaboratively envision a society where loneliness is less prevalent. To achieve this, we will form joint research teams with young people (around 20 years old) and conduct qualitative research. Additionally, we will engage a broad range of stakeholders to share our findings with society.

Big Data Analysis

Using data from the Tokyo Teen Cohort Study (http://ttcp.umin.jp/), which has tracked 3,000 young people over a decade, we will analyze the relationship between school environments and loneliness. This will allow us to identify key environmental factors that contribute to loneliness, visualize how loneliness develops, and pinpoint opportunities for early intervention.

Improving School Climate

We will implement initiatives aimed at improving school climate and the broader educational environment while evaluating their effectiveness in reducing loneliness among students. Through these efforts, we will accumulate valuable insights on effective loneliness prevention strategies and share them widely.

By carrying out these processes in collaboration with young people, we will promote evidence-based intervention for preventing loneliness that also reflect their lived experiences. Ultimately, we aim to create a social environment where loneliness is less likely to occur, contributing to both academic research and educational policy in Japan and beyond.

Q&A

Please tell us more about the social vision this project aims to achieve for the primary prevention of social isolation and loneliness.: We envision a society where young people can grow up with strong social connections and a sense of belonging. Specifically, we aim to create school and community environments where young people feel safe, supported, and empowered to explore their potential.
Loneliness is not just an individual issue—it is influenced by broader social structures and environments. For instance, weak social ties at school or in local communities, as well as the lack of opportunities for young people’s voices to be heard, can deepen isolation. Our project seeks to foster a society where young people actively participate in shaping their own environments, making loneliness less likely.
Furthermore, by establishing school-based systems for preventing loneliness, we believe we can lay the foundation for a more connected society—one where mutual support and social engagement become the norm. Our ultimate vision is a society where young people naturally form meaningful connections before loneliness and isolation become chronic issues.
What are the biggest challenges (bottlenecks) in achieving the social vision above?: The greatest challenge is that loneliness and social isolation are often ‘invisible’ problems. Even when a young person feels lonely, it can be difficult for others to recognize, and they may struggle to articulate their feelings or seek help.
Additionally, transforming school and community environments requires collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, differences in awareness and understanding can create barriers to collective action. To create lasting change, it is essential for educators, policymakers, and community members to recognize youth loneliness as a shared societal issue and work together to address it.
Another challenge lies in the complex, multifaceted nature of loneliness. Its causes vary widely, influenced by personal circumstances, environmental factors, and broader social changes. Developing comprehensive, data-driven strategies to tackle these diverse causes is no easy task.
However, by visualizing loneliness in collaboration with young people and incorporating their perspectives into prevention strategies, we believe we can develop more effective solutions. By amplifying the voices of those directly affected, we aim to drive meaningful change and build a society that truly supports the well-being of young people.

Participating/Cooperating Institutions

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Azabu University, Gunma University, Harvard University, King’s College London, Tokyo Metropolitan Government