About 1 million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Research into the causes has typically focused on test scores, family background and job availability, but a new study points to social isolation during childhood as a significant factor.
Researchers assessed loneliness and social isolation separately at age 12 in a cohort of 2,232 people, then tracked their education and employment status at age 18. Social isolation—having very few social relationships or interactions—proved particularly influential. Children with the highest levels of social isolation had odds of being NEET at age 18 that were around 2.4 times higher than their peers, according to the study. The researchers noted this association was two to three times as strong as other important risk factors, such as childhood mental health difficulties.
The study distinguished between social isolation and loneliness, noting that while the two often occur together, they are not the same. Loneliness refers to how a young person feels about their connections, while isolation describes the objective lack of social relationships. The researchers found that although both were important, isolation had a stronger effect on job prospects and educational attainment.
Contrary to theories suggesting that loneliness might motivate isolated children to rebuild connections, the study found that isolated children who felt lonely at age 12 were just as isolated at age 18 as those who did not feel lonely. The researchers suggested that many young people may cope with loneliness by withdrawing further, or that social difficulties accompanying loneliness can hinder reconnection attempts.
The findings suggest that schools and youth services should actively address social isolation and loneliness rather than assuming these issues will resolve independently. The researchers argued that building positive, supportive relationships early in childhood could be as important as developing job-specific skills and would also benefit young people's health and well-being.