Can “social prescribing” reduce loneliness among children and young people?

What helps children and young people who feel lonely?

This project is testing “social prescribing” for children and adolescents—a way of connecting them to safe communities and activities where they can meet others.

The approach has shown good results for adults, but has rarely been used with younger groups. Now it is being trialled in schools, where access is easier and the potential to reach more young people is greater.

Through collaboration with schools, young people are supported in finding places and activities where they can feel a sense of belonging and build relationships. At the same time, researchers are exploring how the approach can best be delivered—and what impact it has on loneliness and mental health.

The aim is to find a simple, practical way to give more children access to meaningful social connections in their everyday lives.

Publikasjoner

Hayes, D., Burton, A., Bu, F., Humphrey, N., Qualter, P., Han, E., ... & Fancourt, D. (2025). INcreasing Adolescent social and Community supporT (INACT): Pilot study protocol. PloS one, 20(3), e0317823. DoI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317823

Buecker, S., Petersen, K., Neuber, A., Zheng, Y., Hayes, D., & Qualter, P. (2024). A systematic review of longitudinal risk and protective factors for loneliness in youth. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1542(1), 620-637. DoI: 10.1111/nyas.15266