According to a Newport Institute study on male friendshipsA high percentage of heterosexual cisgender men struggle to maintain healthy connections with friends due to societal pressures against vulnerability and the urge to prioritize romantic relationships.

While this trend is not true for all men and certainly does not prevent everyone from maintaining healthy friendships, there are quiet behaviors from men who do not have close friends and who fight against societal pressures that influence isolation and lack of community among many men. in their daily lives.

Here are 9 discreet behaviors of men who don’t have close friends

1. They cultivate dependent romantic relationships

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Men’s social circles are shrinking at an alarming rate, at least according to a survey conducted by the Survey Center on American Life. Only 1 in 5 men have recently received emotional support from a friend, compared to women who have higher rates of connection. Especially for men in romantic relationships, this desire for connection and companionship can fall wrongly on their partners, who may just as often yearn to spend time with their friends.

This tendency to forgo seeking new friendships and reinvest all that energy into a partner may seem healthy at first, but it can arouse feelings of codependency and resentment in the long term.

RELATED: 12 types of men who make terrible partners

2. They live longer at home

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Especially for the younger generations of men today, who are struggling with financial stability and societal pressures to become “providers,” even amid higher debt rates, rising costs, and an uncertain job market, most spend far more time living with their parents than alone .

While it may not be a direct choice, many have no other choice; Without the transition from friendship to shared accommodation, they often cannot afford to live alone or purchase housing without additional sources of income.

While Newport Institute research suggests that close family relationships are extremely important for men seeking connection, they certainly do not replace the companionship of peers and the support of close male friendships, creating a toxic cycle of isolation for men yearning for community.

3. They have difficulty expressing their emotions and vulnerability

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According to personal development coach James Michael Samamany men struggle to harness the power of emotional intelligence, often through no fault of their own.

Societal pressures still condemn many men today who openly share and show their difficult emotions, stress and anxiety. Without the shared bond and trust of a close male friendship, they repress their emotions in the face of a misguided expectation of hyper-masculinity that further closes the door to companionship.

When men struggle to go deeper the surface of a masculinity personality and acknowledge their emotions, they also struggle to maintain healthy connections that truly add purpose, value, and community to their lives.

4. They self-isolate during stressful situations

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Another quiet behavior more common among men who don’t have close friends is their tendency to withdraw when stress or intense emotions become too intense to hide. Without the habitual nature of asking for help or relying on friends, instead they try to hide.

According to Robert Garfieldpsychiatrist and author of “Breaking the Masculine Code: Unleashing the Power of Friendship“, men who struggle with emotional intimacy isolate themselves when things get difficult, especially in times when they need help and support the most.

5. They have difficulty listening actively

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Many men without close friends have difficulty actively listening, especially when something directly contradicts who they are and, more specifically, their beliefs, values, or morals. In “defensive mode”, protecting themselves against what is perceived as a threat to their identity, they erect a wall and hear selectivelyresponsive.

Without the practice of vulnerability and compromise in close friendships, they struggle with active listening, which is largely a difficult skill to master, as the average person only retains about 25% of conversation information, according to Harvard Business Review research.

As a complex and intrinsically linked cycle of hyper-masculinity, lack of vulnerability, and communication practice, many men without close friends are left behind.

RELATED: 6 Honest Reasons Why Strong, Sensitive Men Are Best to Love

6. They are too competitive

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While competition can be healthy, men’s tendency to be pushed to achieve a certain level of competitiveness From a young age, this often brings up an inherent feeling of insecurity – an inner monologue that always suggests that you can be and do better.

This same competitive advantage is almost impossible to unlearn and can often compromise and hijack the nature of truly healthy close friendships, especially with other men. It even becomes a barrier to connection, actively pushing away support, empathy, and mutual respect in an effort to assert superiority.

7. They rely on unhealthy vices

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Without the connection and companionship of close friendships, many men fall into a cycle of isolation that negatively impacts their daily lives, routines and mental health. A 2016 study led by epidemiologist Nicole Valtorta argues that loneliness is not just a brain symptom, but has harmful physical consequences, such as a 30% increase in the risk of stroke and other illnesses.

Especially without the encouragement of their friends, these lonely men fall into unhealthy habits, including vices that simultaneously put their health and well-being at risk. They may be subtle in public, but at home they add to the levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress they ultimately feel. result of their lack of intimate circle.

8. They exclusively do “activity dates” with friends

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Research on friendship and social interaction argues that women are more likely to be “face-to-face” when out with their friends, whereas men tend to be “side-by-side”. Women may spend an entire meeting bonding, talking, and engaging in conversation, while men tend to do an activity like going to a sporting event or seeing a movie where there is no space for conversation.

This cycle of detached and superficial interaction is not just one of the quiet behaviors of men who don’t have close friends; it prevents them from take knowledge to the next vulnerable level.

9. They are workaholics

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While many the nuances of connecting with other men and maintaining healthy relationships is incredibly complex, with its roots in societal expectations and vulnerability, some men without close friendships simply don’t prioritize it.

They may throw themselves into work, “break free” from their partner’s social circles, or even forget to answer their friends’ calls or texts, preventing them from creating their own inner circle. The pressures of becoming a service provider or having a successful career are much higher priority, simply because they are more socially recognized and celebrated for men.

RELATED: 9 Subtle Traits of Masculine Men – But Not in a Bad Way

Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment editor at YourTango focusing on health and wellness, social policy and human interest stories.