Researchers from the Universities of Zurich and Stockholm discovered that young people from less affluent families tend to have fewer friends compared to their wealthier peers, according to a

study published in the journal Social Networks.

The study, which analyzed data from 4,787 Swedish youths aged 14 and 15, revealed that parental income played a role even within the low-income group. Possible explanations for the friendship gap include limited funds for extracurricular activities and the impact of economic and family-related stress on behavior.

The researchers suggest implementing measures in schools to counteract these tendencies and promote more inclusive social environments. Photo by Baby Devi 26, Wikimedia commons.