Adolescent health brief
Increases in Loneliness Among Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Association With Increases in Mental Health Problems

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.08.009Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

Young adults are at high risk for increases in loneliness and mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study examined increases in loneliness in a young adult sample, for whom increases were greater, and association with increases in depression and anxiety.

Method

Data from 564 young adults (ages 22–29, 60.7% women) were collected in January 2020 (pre-pandemic) and April/May 2020 (during pandemic).

Results

Loneliness increased from January to April/May and changes in loneliness were greater for females, those with higher perceived social support in January, and those with greater concerns about the pandemic's social impacts. Depression (but not anxiety) increased during this time with changes in loneliness accounting for much of the increase in depression.

Conclusions

Intervention strategies with young adults need to address loneliness and feelings of reduced social support during this time, especially for those who may have had greater disruption in their social lives.

Keywords

Young adult
COVID-19
Loneliness
Depression
Mental health
USA

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Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Disclaimer: The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official views of the University of Washington, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institutes of Health.

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