Young Adults at the National Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: Understanding the Impact and Future Challenges of Social Distancing on Mental Health Outcomes

Sana Malik (), Ijeoma Opara, David T. Lardier, Jessica Younger and R. Neil Greene
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Sana Malik: School of Social Welfare, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Ijeoma Opara: Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
David T. Lardier: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Jessica Younger: School of Social Welfare, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
R. Neil Greene: Center on Alcohol, Substance Use And Addiction (CASAA), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Objectives. To understand the role and future implications of social distancing on mental health and substance use in young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 living in high-disease-prevalent areas of New York. Methods. Participants completed a self-administered online survey through Qualtrics. Results. 43.9% of the sample met criteria for moderate or severe anxiety, and 53.1% of the sample met criteria for moderate to severe depression. 76.1% of the sample experienced both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Despite this, the rates of lifetime mental health diagnoses, treatment, and access to mental health services were low. Rates of depression and anxiety differed across socio-demographic variables (gender, income, sexuality, education, and insurance status). Experiencing severe symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, poor coping skills, loneliness, increased alcohol use, and sleep disturbances were linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, or both. Conclusion. As the first epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States, New York represents an important location for prevention researchers to learn about how COVID-19 affected a diverse population of young adults. It is essential that researchers and practitioners proactively develop early and appropriate interventions to address the ongoing mental health crisis and also plan for future crises.

Keywords: mental health; anxiety; depression; loneliness; young adults; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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