#Boyswellbeing

An emerging “touch starvation” epidemic is drawing alarm among child development experts, warning that young boys in particular are suffering emotional and social consequences due to a lack of physical affection from parents and caregivers. Research and psychological insights now highlight how this deprivation isn’t just a fleeting discomfort—it can leave a lifelong mark on mental health, suggesting urgent shifts in parenting culture, especially as traditional norms face rapid change in Thailand and worldwide (New York Post).

A growing body of research and poignant cultural narratives highlight how a boy’s sense of self and emotional wellbeing may be deeply shaped by the absence of a mother, whether through death, separation, or emotional neglect. According to a recent analysis in Psychology Today, boys who lose their mothers early in life or are separated from them—regardless of how loving their subsequent caregivers may be—face unique challenges that reverberate into adulthood, impacting attachment styles, emotional regulation, and even future relationships with women (psychologytoday.com).