Adolescent Social Health May Foretell Loneliness, Aggressive Behavior

UC Davis study identifies patterns and predictors of teen social health

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new study from the University of California, Davis, finds that teens who are lonely and experience conflict at home are more likely to act aggressively toward their peers or become victims themselves. The research analyzed data from over 10,000 adolescents and identified three social profiles that grouped teens based on factors like number of friends, friend group composition, and peer conflict.

Why it matters

Understanding the key drivers of adolescent social health is crucial, as positive relationships during the teenage years can lead to better mental health outcomes in adulthood and help teens manage negative stress. This research expands on prior studies by looking at multiple variables of teens' social lives, which may help uncover ways to improve their social well-being.

The details

The study, published in the journal Developmental Psychology, found that 'lonely' teens were less likely to have a high number of friends and more likely to be both aggressive and victims of aggression. Family conflict also played a strong role, with active conflict being more strongly associated with aggression and victimization than prior conflict. Gender differences emerged, with girls more likely to have fewer friends than boys, while boys were more likely to be aggressive or victimized by peers.

  • The study analyzed data collected from 2016 to 2021.
  • The data came from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a large-scale study on brain development and child health supported by the National Institutes of Health.

The players

Myles N. Arrington

The study's lead author and a post-doctoral fellow at the Teen Experiences, Emotions & Neurodevelopment (TEEN) Lab at UC Davis.

Adrienne Nishina

Professor and chair of human ecology at UC Davis, and a co-author of the study.

Camelia E. Hostinar

Associate professor of psychology at UC Davis, and a co-author of the study.

Amanda E. Guyer

Professor of human ecology at UC Davis, principal investigator at the TEEN Lab in the Center for Mind and Brain, and a co-author of the study.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Because new peer relationships are a key characteristic of the teenage years, assessing this developmental period is crucial for understanding social health at its foundation.”

— Myles N. Arrington, Lead author (ucdavis.edu)

“It's important to consider multiple variables together to accurately characterize social health during adolescence. These findings are an important step in identifying the various facets of how adolescents begin to build close relationships with peers.”

— Amanda E. Guyer, Principal investigator (ucdavis.edu)

What’s next

The research team plans to further investigate how different aspects of adolescent social health, such as loneliness and peer conflict, may impact brain development and mental health outcomes.

The takeaway

This study highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of adolescent social health, underscoring the need to consider factors like loneliness, family conflict, and gender differences when supporting the social and emotional well-being of teens. The findings could inform future interventions aimed at improving peer relationships and social connectedness during this critical developmental period.