Adolescents' longitudinal trajectories of mental health and loneliness: the impact of COVID-19 school closures

Abstract

Longitudinal research examining the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents is scarce. The prolonged periods of physical and social isolation because of COVID-19 may have impacted heavily on adolescents’ mental health and feelings of loneliness. The current study addresses a major gap by examining the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and feelings of loneliness of 785, 10-17 year old Western Australian adolescents who were surveyed across four time-points: two assessments prior to COVID-19, one at the commencement of school closures, and one post the reopening of schools. Pre- and post COVID-19 changes in mental health and loneliness were compared using linear mixed models. Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPMs) were used to assess temporal associations between dimensions of loneliness, depression symptoms and positive mental wellbeing. Compared to pre-COVID-19 symptom levels, there were significant increases in depression symptoms, internalizing and externalizing symptoms and a significant decrease in positive mental wellbeing at different points over time. Symptom change over time differed according to gender and pre COVID-19 initial levels of symptom severity. Significant increases in positive attitudes towards being alone and feelings of isolation also occurred at different points over time. Gender differences were again evident. Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Models highlighted the predictive significance of quality of friendships and having a negative attitude towards being alone over time in relation to depression symptoms. Having a positive or negative attitude towards being alone was significantly predictive of positive mental wellbeing over time. The findings provide strong evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged physical and social isolation from friends adversely affected the mental health and feelings of loneliness of adolescents.

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© 2022 Elsevier B.V.

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https://researchonline.gcu.ac.uk/en/publications/14981dd5-13e5-4502-9203-745b5641f1ab