Lonely and Self-Centered? A Meta-Analysis of the Link Between Prosociality and Loneliness

While loneliness may motivate individuals to approach others, it may simultaneously increase their focus on self-preservation, resulting in egocentric behavior. Since the evidence linking loneliness and prosociality is inconclusive, the current meta-analysis aims to explore this relationship. Through a systematic search of databases, we identified 35 studies involving 44,764 participants. A small effect size for a negative correlation between loneliness and prosociality ( r = -0.12, 95% CI: [-0.19, -0.05]) was found using the random effects model. The effect was not moderated by participants’ sociodemographic characteristics or the WEIRDness of the sample but differed between types of measurement and forms of prosocial behavior. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the processes perpetuating the link between loneliness and decreased prosociality, as this tendency may pose difficulties in restoring social connections, cooperating with others, or aiming for common goals.