Institute for Family Studies finds U.S. young men demoralized and lonely

A new report from the Institute for Family Studies, titled “America’s Demoralized Men,” surveyed 2,000 U.S. men aged 18‑29. More than half said they feel lonely or isolated at least some of the time, and 48% lack a sense of community. Sixty‑one percent feel they have little control over their lives, while 43% agree they feel like a failure.

Despite these feelings, the respondents still aspire to traditional milestones such as marriage, fatherhood and stable employment, but many view the American Dream as increasingly out of reach. The study also highlighted heavy electronic media use—social media, pornography, online gambling and video games—which respondents say worsens their mental health. Michael Toscano, co‑author and director of the Family First Technology Initiative, said, “We really tried to allow young men to speak for themselves,” and warned that “the loneliness crisis is something that is visiting everyone.” The findings challenge the notion that young men simply lack ambition, showing instead a generation that wants responsibility but feels blocked by economic, educational and relational barriers.