Loneliness, Mental Health, and Substance Use among US Young Adults during COVID-19

Abstract

As COVID-19 converges with loneliness and addiction epidemics in the US, both public health and mental health experts forecast dramatic increases in substance use and mental health conditions. This cross-sectional study evaluated relationships of loneliness with depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use during COVID-19, and assessed perceived increases in these symptoms in young adults. Between April 22 and May 11, 2020, 1,008 participants ages 18-35 were recruited through social media to a one-time, online anonymous survey. Symptomatology was assessed using six scales. Perceived changes since COVID-19 were evaluated using 5-point Likert scales. Forty-nine percent of respondents reported loneliness scores above 50; 80% reported significant depressive symptoms; 61% reported moderate to severe anxiety; 30% disclosed harmful levels of drinking. While only 22% of the population reported using drugs, 38% reported severe drug use. Loneliness was associated with higher levels of mental health symptomatology. Participants reported significant increases across mental health and substance use symptoms since COVID-19. While direct impacts of COVID-19 could only be calculated with pre-pandemic assessments of these symptoms, estimates indicate elevated psychosocial symptomatology and suggest that symptoms could have worsened since the pandemic. Findings underscore the importance of prevention and intervention to address these public health problems.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on alcohol use disorders and complications

“…A summary of factors associated with increased alcohol use include psychological distress related to COVID-19 [ 32 ▪ , 33 , 35 , 39 ], increased availability of free time [ 40 ], misinformation about alcohol, heavy drinking prepandemic, job loss, eating more, changes in sleep, higher anxiety and depression [ 41 – 44 ], living with children [ 45 ], reduced physical activity [ 46 ], loneliness, [ 47 ], cyberbullying, victimisation at work [ 33 ], lower social connectedness and having one child under the age of 18 years [ 48 ]. In a US-based online survey, increase in alcohol-related problems was independent of the amount of alcohol consumption [ 29 ].…”

Feelings of loneliness and mental health needs and services utilization among Chinese residents during the COVID-19 epidemic

“…Evidence from empirical studies has shown that loneliness is an important risk factor for a myriad of deleterious physical and mental consequences, including early mortality, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, suicidal behaviors, depressive symptoms, and cognitive decline [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Similarly, during this pandemic, population-based studies have demonstrated significant associations of feelings of loneliness with increased risk of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, poor sleep, alcohol and drug use, and poor quality of life [10][11][12][13][14]. Importantly, researchers found that, compared to adults who were not lonely, lonely adults were significantly less likely to engage in a variety of individual COVID-19 preventive behaviors [15].…”

Calling for benefit–risk evaluations of COVID-19 control measures

“…Physical distancing and contact reduction are causing severe stress to many people and might increase the risk of suicide. 6 In a meta-analysis of the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic, 7 8 Further and stronger restrictions on physical and social contact could lead to a further increase in the prevalence of depression.…”