Social isolation, mental health, and use of digital interventions in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationally representative survey

Eur Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 9;64(1):e20. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.17.

Abstract

Background: Public health measures to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates may have negative psychosocial consequences in youth. Digital interventions may help to mitigate these effects. We investigated the associations between social isolation, COVID-19-related cognitive preoccupation, worries, and anxiety, objective social risk indicators, and psychological distress, as well as use of, and attitude toward, mobile health (mHealth) interventions in youth.

Methods: Data were collected as part of the "Mental Health And Innovation During COVID-19 Survey"-a cross-sectional panel study including a representative sample of individuals aged 16-25 years (N = 666; Mage = 21.3; assessment period: May 5, 2020 to May 16, 2020).

Results: Overall, 38% of youth met criteria for moderate or severe psychological distress. Social isolation worries and anxiety, and objective risk indicators were associated with psychological distress, with evidence of dose-response relationships for some of these associations. For instance, psychological distress was progressively more likely to occur as levels of social isolation increased (reporting "never" as reference group: "occasionally": adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3-19.1, p < 0.001; "often": aOR 22.2, CI 9.8-50.2, p < 0.001; "very often": aOR 42.3, CI 14.1-126.8, p < 0.001). There was evidence that psychological distress, worries, and anxiety were associated with a positive attitude toward using mHealth interventions, whereas psychological distress, worries, and anxiety were associated with actual use.

Conclusions: Public health measures during pandemics may be associated with poor mental health outcomes in youth. Evidence-based digital interventions may help mitigate the negative psychosocial impact without risk of viral infection given there is an objective need and subjective demand.

Keywords: COVID-19; Social isolation; Social risk; Youth mental health; mHealth.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / prevention & control
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • COVID-19* / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Internet-Based Intervention / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Mental Health*
  • Quarantine* / methods
  • Quarantine* / psychology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Social Isolation / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological* / etiology
  • Stress, Psychological* / prevention & control
  • Telemedicine / methods
  • Young Adult