Loneliness drives teens to seek rewards, study finds
A new study from the University of Cambridge reveals that adolescents become significantly more motivated to chase rewards after only a few hours of social isolation. The research shows that a brief period without contact can heighten a teen’s drive to obtain rewards—ranging from social interactions to money and other pleasures—raising important questions about how isolation, digital life, and family dynamics shape youth behavior. The findings also highlight a potential double-edged sword: the same urge to reconnect could propel positive social reengagement, or lead to riskier choices if healthy outlets aren’t available. In addition, the study found that giving teens access to virtual social interactions during isolation can lessen feelings of loneliness and blunt the surge in reward-seeking, suggesting that digital connections can buffer some of the negative effects of loneliness.