Loneliness and Deficits in Social Connectedness as Mediators of Depression and Suicidal Ideation/Behavior in Men: A Systematic Scoping Review of Evidence from the Digital Era

Abstract

Loneliness and deficits in social connectedness emerge as critical yet under-examined mediators linking the social and digital conditions of contemporary life to depression and suicidal ideation or behaviour in men. This systematic scoping review synthesises evidence showing that both subjective loneliness and structural isolation robustly predict elevated depressive symptoms and suicide-related outcomes among men, with effects intensified by masculine norms that constrain emotional expression and help-seeking. In the digital era, problematic social media and internet use frequently displace higher-quality offline ties, amplifying loneliness particularly among younger men, while purposeful online engagement and community-based models of male connection offer partial buffers. Few studies have formally tested these mediation pathways in exclusively male samples with longitudinal designs, and measurement of both loneliness and digital exposures remains inconsistent. Intersectionality and life-course transitions receive limited attention. The findings nevertheless carry clear implications: clinical and prevention efforts should routinely assess social connectedness alongside conventional mental-health indicators, prioritise gender-sensitive, action-oriented and peer-based approaches, and strengthen offline networks while promoting healthy digital engagement. Public health strategies aimed at reducing male suicide would benefit from treating social connectedness as a core rather than peripheral target. Addressing loneliness and social disconnection therefore constitutes a modifiable pathway with substantial potential to reduce preventable suffering among men.