Prevalence and Predictors of Loneliness Among Youth During the Time of COVID-19: A Multinational Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Given the restrictions associated with COVID-19, feelings of loneliness among youth may increase. AIMS: The aims of the current study were to assess the prevalence of loneliness among young people at the time of COVID-19 and to identify whether selected variables related to the pandemic predicted the level of loneliness. METHOD: A cross-sectional study using WhatsApp and Facebook social media platforms was conducted to survey 1,057 young people aged 15 to 24 years from six Middle Eastern countries. Participants completed survey items including demographic and COVID-19-related questions; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS); the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS); and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of experienced loneliness was 1 (0.1%), 625 (59.1%), 429 (40.6%), and 2 (0.2%), reflecting low, moderate, moderately high, and high experiences for loneliness, respectively. History of depression or anxiety, being dissatisfied with life, and having depression at the time of COVID-19 were significant predictors of loneliness among youth. The model was significant ( F = 44.95, p < .05) and accounted for 29.8% of the variance in UCLA Loneliness Scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the high prevalence rate of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic was correlated with depression and impaired life satisfaction among Middle Eastern youth. Thus, special attention and interventional action plans need to be developed taking into consideration the youths’ special situation during COVID-19.

Rationale, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) Program: A Novel Nature-Based Social Intervention for Loneliness Reduction with Teen Parents and Their Peers

“…Baseline loneliness scores from MINT participants indicated moderate loneliness both pre and post intervention [ 73 ]. Loneliness scores from MINT participants were similar to those measured among international samples of adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ], indicating congruence between the sample in this study and other populations of adolescents. Given that the loneliness scores obtained in this study were measured during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scores may not be indicative of typical levels loneliness within this population.…”

A narrative review into the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on senior high school adolescent mental health

“…Research showed that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, 48%, 44%, 34%, and 29.1% of adolescents experienced posttraumatic stress symptoms, sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety, respectively (L. Ma et al, 2021 ). At the same time, loneliness, low‐severe stress, perturbed about the pandemic, and attempted suicide were also found in adolescents with 59%, 26.9%, 24.5%, and 7,5%, respectively, during this pandemic (Al Omari et al, 2021 ; Gazmararian et al, 2021 ; T. Hou et al, 2020 ).…”

Assessment of Loneliness During the Pandemic: Comparing Various Short Forms of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in South Africa Using Classical Test Theory and Mokken Analysis

“…For example, a study in the United Kingdom [4] reported a loneliness prevalence rate of 27% in 2020, while another study [5] found that 28.63% and 7.20% of the participants reported feeling lonely sometimes and often respectively, in 2020. A study based on six Middle Eastern countries conducted in 2021 reported that 40.6% of the respondents expressed a moderately high degree of loneliness [6]. Conversely, one study found no significant changes in loneliness during various phases of the pandemic [7].…”