What does loneliness feel like for men today? A scoping review of contemporary masculinities and lonely-emotion complexes

Abstract

Relatively little is known about how loneliness is subjectively experienced, interpreted and managed by men negotiating contemporary masculinities. We undertook a scoping review of qualitative studies examining men’s lived experiences and management of loneliness. Eight themes reveal that men’s loneliness (1) often stems from alienation, difficulties expressing vulnerability and challenges forming authentic connections and (2) arises through negotiating competing masculine ideals, balancing stoicism and self-sufficiency with care and emotional expression. These tensions produce (3) lonely-emotion complexes comprising positive and negative emotions (for example, shame, anxiety, relief and hope) associated with loss, rebuilding and meaningful belonging and (4) the intertwining of loneliness with psychological distress, stigma and maladaptive silence, social withdrawal, substance use, suicidality and hypermasculine responses. Men’s loneliness is further shaped by (5) physical and digital spaces that foster either safety, recognition and belonging or exclusion and isolation and (6) having intersecting identities related to migration, race, sexuality, family roles and cultural backgrounds recognized and affirmed. Men manage loneliness by (7) adopting hybrid masculine strategies that balance autonomy, self-protection and self-development with vulnerability and connection across changing social contexts and relationships and (8) developing authentic, emotionally safe, dependable and personalized relationships where they feel heard, respected, useful and able to contribute meaningfully to others. We conclude that men’s loneliness is a dynamic emotional and relational process shaped by competing masculinities, intersecting social contexts and lonely-emotion complexes. Addressing men’s loneliness requires approaches that move beyond individual pathology to foster socially and emotionally safe environments that support diverse masculine identities, authentic belonging and meaningful connection.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Emotions and Society, 2026 · DOI ↗