American Institute for Boys and Men

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Key Policy Issues for Sports Betting in 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Sports betting in America is in a state of flux. The last twelve months have seen the rise of sports prediction market contracts, changes in betting options and gambling taxes, and the stubborn persistence of unlicensed operators. Between the possibility of new regulation, legislation, and ongoing lawsuits, the next twelve months may bring just as much change as the last twelve. What, exactly, is on the horizon for American sports betting? To find out, join the American Institute for Boys and Men for a webinar on February 5 at 1pm ET. Earlier this month, in partnership with Arnold Ventures, AIBM launched a new hub to coordinate research and advocacy on gambling and to serve as a resource for lawmakers, regulators, journalists, advocates, and the industry itself. To explain what the next year has in store, AIBM will be joined by Brianne Doura-Schawohl (Campaign for Fairer Gambling), Chris Grove (Eilers & Krejcik Gaming), and Steve Ruddock (Straight to the Point Consulting). The conversation will be moderated by AIBM’s Jonathan D. Cohen.

Sports betting in the U.S. is changing fast. New prediction markets, regulatory shifts, and legal challenges are reshaping the landscape.

Join AIBM on Feb 5 at 1pm ET for a webinar on what’s next.

Register here:

Sensible sports betting: A policy framework Legal sports betting has gone mainstream, but regulation lags. This policy brief outlines practical reforms to reduce financial and social harm.

Since 2018, sports betting has rapidly expanded across the country.

Research links legalization to financial stress for some bettors, especially young men. This policy framework by David Sasaki, Jonathan D. Cohen, and Isaac Rose-Berman outlines nine harm-reduction approaches.

The strong, positive effects of high-dose tutoring for boys and (girls) Boys face early, lasting education gaps. Research shows most interventions fall short—except high-dose tutoring with proven gains.

Tutoring works best when it’s frequent.

High-dose tutoring shows much larger gains when sessions occur 3-5 days per week. Programs offered only once or twice weekly have far smaller effects.

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Male loneliness and isolation: What the data shows Explore research-backed insights into male loneliness and isolation, highlighting key social and emotional trends.

Men and women are spending more time alone, and at similar rates. Gender differences in loneliness are modest, but they show up in how connection is experienced, not time alone.

Isaac Bledsoe and Ben Smith examine what the data shows.

How sports betting can harm young men Legalized sports betting is linked to rising bankruptcies, lower credit scores, and financial distress—especially for young men in low-income areas.

Legal sports betting has expanded rapidly, and the impacts are not evenly distributed.

Young men now account for a growing share of betting participation, losses, and harm.

Poet Larsen examines what legalization has changed and why it matters.

The strong, positive effects of high-dose tutoring for boys and (girls) Boys face early, lasting education gaps. Research shows most interventions fall short—except high-dose tutoring with proven gains.

Tutoring benefits boys and girls at similar rates, but boys are more likely to be struggling readers. That makes high-dose tutoring a promising tool for narrowing early gender gaps, says Ben Smith.

Synthetic companions, real risks: Why AI “painkillers” for loneliness need evidence before scale Teens turn to AI companions for support, but the same features that help can also create dependence and delay real connection.

AI companions are becoming mainstream for teens. About 3 in 4 have used one, and 1 in 5 now spend as much time with AI companions as with friends.

Rupert Gill explains why this matters for boys and young men and why evidence should come before scale.

The strong, positive effects of high-dose tutoring for boys and (girls) Boys face early, lasting education gaps. Research shows most interventions fall short—except high-dose tutoring with proven gains.

New research from Ben Smith shows that high-dose tutoring really works. It’s one of the few education interventions with big, consistent gains, outperforming most others in both reading and math.

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Getting men re-engaged in college Men are 42% of students but 51% of stopouts. Why men leave college and how re-enrollment programs can bring them back.

Most students leave college for personal or financial reasons, not academic ones. Flexibility matters. Community colleges serve most stopouts and re-enrollees because they better fit adult learners’ lives.

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A pivotal year for boys and men's issues Richard Reeves reflects on AIBM’s growth and the real momentum in 2025 for state-level action supporting boys and men.

AIBM President @richardreeves.bsky.social explains why the past year marked a turning point for how issues affecting boys and men entered public discussion.

Are younger men worse off than their fathers?

In an NPR conversation, @richardreeves.bsky.social discusses what the data shows about men’s wages and how economic and cultural changes are affecting working-class men.

Deaths of decision-making among young men Exploring why young men face higher fatality rates—and the proven behavioral strategies that can prevent these deaths.

A randomized trial of the Becoming a Man program found nearly a 50% reduction in violent crime arrests by teaching young men to slow down reflexive decisions. Small interventions can save lives at scale.

Getting men re-engaged in college Men are 42% of students but 51% of stopouts. Why men leave college and how re-enrollment programs can bring them back.

Men who re-enroll in college often succeed when structured support exists. The issue is less motivation and more whether systems help students navigate their return.

Synthetic companions, real risks: Why AI “painkillers” for loneliness need evidence before scale Teens turn to AI companions for support, but the same features that help can also create dependence and delay real connection.

One of the major risks of AI companions is substitution: They can replace real world relationships before those relationships take root.

Are young men really returning to church? The data says not so fast Is the Gen Z religious gender gap reversing? Pew, GSS, and CES data suggest a narrowing gap—driven by women’s decline, not men’s revival.

The religious gender gap is narrowing, but mostly because women are becoming less religious, not because men are returning to church.

Read the commentary: aibm.org/commentary/a...

For ages 15-20, the biggest mortality gaps are not from chronic illness. They are from homicide, suicide, overdoses, and crashes. These often unfold in minutes or hours, shaped by pressure, access, and circumstance.

Learn more: aibm.org/policy/death...

Why every teenager needs a dad  Why dads play a vital, distinct role in adolescent development—and how their presence transforms teens’ mental health.

Research shows that when teenagers have secure connections with a father figure, they are more likely to thrive. Fathers make a unique contribution that complements other caregivers.

Read the commentary by Anna Machin:

Getting men re-engaged in college Men are 42% of students but 51% of stopouts. Why men leave college and how re-enrollment programs can bring them back.

Men are 42% of college students but 51% of stopouts. They are more likely to leave college and less likely to re-enroll.

New analysis by Ben Smith and Isaac Bledsoe examines why men fall out of the pipeline and whether reenrollment programs are reaching them.

Are young men really returning to church? The data says not so fast Is the Gen Z religious gender gap reversing? Pew, GSS, and CES data suggest a narrowing gap—driven by women’s decline, not men’s revival.

Despite recent headlines, survey data shows no clear evidence that Gen Z men are more religious than young women.

The gender gap is narrowing mainly because women are becoming less religious, not because men are returning to church, says Ryan Burge.

Why society offers less sympathy when men fall behind Society shows less sympathy when men fall behind. New research reveals people blame struggling men more and support fewer policies to help them.

“Our study provides a sobering insight: society is more accepting of men falling behind, less likely to view their struggles as unfair, and less willing to provide help.”

Read the research summary by Alexander W. Cappelen, Ranveig Falch, and Bertil Tungodden:

Synthetic companions, real risks: Why AI “painkillers” for loneliness need evidence before scale Teens turn to AI companions for support, but the same features that help can also create dependence and delay real connection.

AI companions are getting more usage, but the evidence behind their impact is still thin.

Our latest commentary looks at what we know, the risks for vulnerable users, and why stronger evaluation is needed before wider scale.

aibm.org/commentary/s...

We just launched Boys & Men Online, a new program at the American Institute for Boys and Men studying how digital technologies shape the lives of boys and men.

Led by David Sasaki, with fellows Isaac Rose-Berman and Bailey Way.

Learn more: aibm.org/boys-men-onl...

Men at Work: Trends and Metrics - American Institute for Boys and Men Explore male workforce trends by race, age, and education with data on unemployment, participation, and earnings from BLS and CPS.

New Male Employment Data for November

The male #employment dashboard is updated! Explore the latest data on employment, unemployment, earnings, and more with interactive visuals.

Why society offers less sympathy when men fall behind Society shows less sympathy when men fall behind. New research reveals people blame struggling men more and support fewer policies to help them.

A study with around 35,000 Americans shows a consistent gender gap in sympathy. When the struggling worker was male, participants were more likely to blame effort and less likely to support policies to help them.

Read the full research summary:

Support AIBM | American Institute for Boys and Men (Powered by Donorbox) At the American Institute for Boys and Men, we are dedicated to understanding and addressing the challenges faced by boys and men in the US. Through unbiased research and policy advocacy, we aim to create a society where every individual, regardle...

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Newsletter Read the latest news from AIBM and learn about research and commentary focusing on the wellbeing of boys and men.

This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the people who support and engage with our work. Thank you for being part of our mission.

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Mental health support is not reaching boys. It is time to listen deeply. Support for boys mental health is falling short. Why young men turn to digital spaces—and how better tools and peer support can help.

Boys and young men are facing mental health challenges, and many turn to digital tools because the support they want is not available offline.

In a new commentary, Sema K. Sgaier argues that we need to design systems to meet boys and young men where they are.

Lessons from England on creating a men’s health strategy A look at why a dedicated Men’s Health Strategy is needed to improve outcomes, reduce preventable deaths, and tackle inequalities.

Mark Brooks writes that England’s new men’s health strategy offers a blueprint for other nations. It emphasizes a male-positive lens, evidence-based action, and systemic change in health services and society. It invites countries to ask: if England can, why can’t we?

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Beyond half measures: How to improve gender gap indices Gender equality metrics should capture gaps in both directions. In OECD nations, men often lag in education and health—issues current reports overlook.

Our new analysis shows why gender gaps should be measured in both directions. Revising the Global Gender Gap Report reveals areas where boys and men fall behind in OECD countries.

More from Richard V. Reeves and Allen Downey here:

International Men's Day International Men’s Day, Nov 19, honors men’s contributions and highlights challenges in mental health, education, and beyond.

Today is International Men’s Day

It is an opportunity to recognize the positive contributions men make in their families, workplaces, and communities, while also acknowledging the real challenges many men face in areas like mental health, education, and connection.

Learn more: