Young people, mental health and COVID-19 infection: The canaries we put in the coal-mine

Jia, Ru; Ayling, Kieran; Chalder, Trudie; Coupland, Carol; Massey, Adam; Broadbent, Elizabeth; Morling, Joanne R.; Vedhara, Kavita

Abstract

Background: The number of people testing positive for SARS-COV-2 in the UK, particularly among young adults, is increasing. We report here on the mental health of young adults and related psychological and behavioural responses to the pandemic, and consider the role of these factors in fuelling the increase in Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in this group.

Methods: An online survey was completed during the first six weeks of the first UK-wide lockdown by 3097 respondents, including data for 364 respondents between the ages of 18-24 years. The survey included measures of mental health and indices capturing related psychological and behavioural responses to the pandemic.

Results: The mental health of 18-24 years olds in the first 6 weeks of lockdown was significantly poorer than that of older respondents and previously published norms: with 84% reporting symptoms of depression and 72% reporting symptoms of anxiety. Young adults also reported significantly greater loneliness and reduced positive mood, both of which were also associated with greater mental health difficulties.

Conclusions: We contend that the combination of mental health, social and economic considerations may have contributed to the rise of COVID-19 infections in young adults and ascribing blame to this group will not aid our efforts to regain control of the disease.

Citation

Jia, R., Ayling, K., Chalder, T., Coupland, C., Massey, A., Broadbent, E., Morling, J. R., & Vedhara, K. (2020). Young people, mental health and COVID-19 infection: The canaries we put in the coal-mine. Public Health, 189, 158-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2020.10.018

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 18, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 28, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Deposit Date: Oct 28, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 29, 2021
• Journal: Public Health
• Print ISSN: 0033-3506
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-5616
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 189
• Pages: 158-161
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2020.10.018
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4996664
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350620304601