Why adolescent girls are lonelier than boys, experts say

Sometimes teenagers feel lonely, even when they are surrounded by classmates, friends and family.

A big study in South Asia looked at nearly 8,000 teenagers in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

It found that more girls than boys said they felt lonely: 18.1% versus 12.3%.

The study also showed that teenagers who were bullied, had no close friends, or had trouble sleeping because of worries were more likely to feel lonely.

Some experts think girls may feel more isolated because safety concerns and social expectations limit how freely they can meet people.

Others point out that boys may find it harder to talk about their feelings because of gendered expectations.

Experts say loneliness is not simply about how many friends someone has—it is about feeling safe, accepted and understood.

They believe schools can help by offering peer groups, mentoring, sports, arts and counselling to every student.

Even chatting online with many people does not always make a teenager feel less alone.

The most helpful thing for a lonely adolescent is having even one space where they feel heard.