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

Ifeoma Nwamaka Monago 1, *, Chibuike Stephen Nzereogu 2, Oluwaseyi Blessing Akomolafe 3, Philip Elekwa 4 and Favour Kosisochukwu Mbakwe 5

1 Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
2 Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, University of Port-harcourt, Port-harcourt, Nigeria.
3 Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Mapúa University, Metropolitan Manila, Philippines.
4 Department of Environmental Science, University of Illinois Springfiield (UIS), USA.
5 Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
* Corresponding Author
ORCID Details
Chibuike Stephen Nzereogu: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4096-2265
Oluwaseyi Blessing Akomolafe: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9927-7914
Favour Kosisochukwu Mbakwe: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6686-780X
 
Review
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2026, 12(01), 131–141.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2026.12.1.0076
Publication history: 
Received on 17 July 2026; revised on 24 August 2026; accepted on 26 August 2026
 
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.
 
Keywords: 
Loneliness, Social Connectedness, Social Isolation, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Men's Mental Health, Social Media, Mediation
 
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Copyright information: 
Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0