How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted socialization among college students.
By Jean Mondoro and Shawn Fleetwood
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 sent the world into a tailspin. Businesses shut down, schools closed their doors, and families were forced to spend an extended, impromptu spring break crammed in their homes. Needless to say, the once-in-a-lifetime event completely altered society as we know it.
While much of the media coverage surrounding complete societal lockdown has often pertained to the economic damage caused by such policies, there has been little discussion regarding the mental and emotional effects extended social distancing has had on individuals. Over the past year, families and friends have been, both willingly and unwillingly, separated from one another for extended periods of time. Given that humans are social creatures by nature, such separation has extracted a heavy toll, particularly with respect to young people.
67% of young people believe the pandemic will have a long-term negative effect on their mental health- Young Minds
While data on the subject remains scarce as of present, completed studies that have been released show the overall negative impact extended social distancing and lockdowns have had on the mental health of adolescents. According to a Sept. 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, there are strong “associations between social anxiety and loneliness/social isolation” as it relates to the COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing measures implemented over the past year.
“Exposure to feared situations is generally regarded as an essential component of anxiety treatment. School environments typically provide a plethora of opportunities for social exposure,” wrote Matthew Morrissette, MD. “Needless to say, opportunities for exposure to social situations have been exceedingly limited for many children and youths during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
71% of parents believe the pandemic has taken a toll on their child’s mental health- Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Another study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association in August 2021 shows similar trends, with the publication providing details about the increased rates of depression and anxiety among young people. According to the analysis, “of 29 studies including 80 879 youth globally, the pooled prevalence estimates of clinically elevated child and adolescent depression and anxiety were 25.2% and 20.5%, respectively.”
The study also notes how “[T]he prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms during COVID-19 have doubled, compared with prepandemic estimates,” with moderator analyses revealing that “prevalence rates were higher when collected later in the pandemic, in older adolescents, and in girls.”
“Of the 195 students, 138 (71%) indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
Additional studies on the subject matter have been published in The Journal of Medical Internet Research, the Canadian Journal of School Psychology and PLOS One.
While only a handful of studies, the trends portrayed in these varying analyses paint a very dark and grim picture for the mental wellbeing of younger generations. As more scientifically analyzed datasets are released to the public, we will begin to better understand the full-throated impact that social distancing behaviors have had on children and adolescents throughout the country.