Loneliness and mental health in children and adolescents with pre‐existing mental health problems: A rapid systematic review

Hards, Emily; Loades, Maria; Higson-Sweeney, Nina; Shafran, Roz; Serafimova, Teona; Brigden, Amberly; Reynolds, Shirley; Crawley, Esther; Chatburn, Eleanor; Linney, Catherine; McManus, Megan; Borwick, Cath

doi:10.1111/bjc.12331

Cited by 89 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The impact of the pandemic and social isolation is also evident in children and young people. Loneliness determined by the pandemic landscape has been associated with anxiety and depression in the young segment of the population with pre-existing mental health conditions [ 144 ].…”

Section: Mental Health During the Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time to Sleep?—A Review of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep and Mental Health

Neculicioiu

Colosi

Costache

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Sleep is intrinsically tied to mental and overall health. Short sleep duration accompanies the modern lifestyle, possibly reaching epidemic proportions. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns determined a fundamental shift in the modern lifestyle and had profound effects on sleep and mental health. This paper aims to provide an overview of the relationship between sleep, mental health and COVID-19. Contrasting outcomes on sleep health have been highlighted by most reports during the pandemic in the general population. Consequently, while longer sleep durations have been reported, this change was accompanied by decreases in sleep quality and altered sleep timing. Furthermore, an increased impact of sleep deficiencies and mental health burden was generally reported in health care workers as compared with the adult general population. Although not among the most frequent symptoms during the acute or persistent phase, an increased prevalence of sleep deficiencies has been reported in patients with acute and long COVID. The importance of sleep in immune regulation is well known. Consequently, sleep deficiencies may influence multiple aspects of COVID-19, such as the risk, severity, and prognosis of the infection and even vaccine response.

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Section: Mental Health During the Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time to Sleep?—A Review of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep and Mental Health

Neculicioiu

Colosi

Costache

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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show abstract

“…Loneliness and its related negative feelings are thought to be particularly pronounced during adolescence and young adulthood (39) because of the many social and personal changes that young people deal with during this period of life (40)(41)(42)(43). Loneliness itself has been referred to as an epidemic, and there have been heightened concerns about its effects during the COVID-19 pandemic (8,(44)(45)(46). Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the type of impact of the pandemic and the levels of loneliness experienced by young people (47).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness in Young Adults During the First Wave of COVID-19 Lockdown: Results From the Multicentric COMET Study

et al. 2021

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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental and physical health of the general population at any age, but it is expected to have a protracted and severe consequences for younger populations. The pandemic has had several consequences on mental health including anger and irritability, depressive symptoms and somatic complaints, insomnia, lack of motivation, and loneliness. In particular, loneliness and its related negative feelings are thought to be particularly pronounced during young adulthood because of the many social changes that young people deal with during this period of life. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the type of impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people and their levels of loneliness experienced during the first phase of the lockdown. Based on the largest Italian study on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of general population, in this paper we aim to: (1) describe the levels of loneliness in a national sample of Italian young adults aged 18–34 years, during the first wave of lockdown in 2020; (2) evaluate the clinical and socio-demographic differences in young adults reporting low vs. high levels of loneliness; (3) assess the role of clinical symptomatology, coping strategies, levels of resilience, and duration of lockdown as possible predictors of loneliness. The final sample consists of 8,584 people, mainly female (72.6%), single, with a mean age of 26.4 (±4.4) years. The mean score at the UCLA was 47.5 (±13.6), with 27% (N = 2,311) of respondents exceeding the cut-off for high levels of loneliness. High levels of loneliness were predicted by the presence of avoidant coping strategies, such as self-distraction (Beta coefficient, B = 0.369, 95% Confidence Interval, CI = 0.328–0.411), venting (B = 0.245, 95% CI = 0.197–0.293), denial (B = 0.110, 95% CI = 0.061–0.159), and emotional disengagement (B = 0.133, 95% CI = 0.080–0.185). Weeks of exposure to the pandemic were significantly associated with worsening of loneliness (p < 0.000). There is currently considerable interest in trying to reduce loneliness, both within the context of COVID-19 and more generally. Our results highlight that young people are at a higher risk of developing loneliness and suggest that more interventions and practical guidelines are needed.

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“…The coping strategies considered most helpful were time spent with family and friends in a phase of limited social contact. It was found that loneliness increases the risk for anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults with pre-existing mental health problems [ 38 ]; thus, social isolation during lockdown might pose a risk for mental health problems. We suggest implementing interventions centred around conversation and social connection, as proposed by Fernández-Aranda et al [ 29 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 Restrictions on Eating Behaviour and Eating Disorder Symptomology in Female Adolescents

Muth

Leven

Moll

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic imposes a burden on adolescents worldwide and may seriously impact patients with an eating disorder (ED). The current FRanconian Anorexia Nervosa during COVID-19 (FRANCO) study explored (1) perceived change of depressive and ED symptomology during lockdown, (2) the role of social media, and (3) coping strategies of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients and clinical as well as healthy comparison groups. From June 2021 to September 2021, 222 female adolescents (19 with AN, 20 with depression, 45 with a self-reported psychiatric disorder (SRPD), and 138 controls) aged 11.2 to 18.9 years completed a one-time anonymous survey retrospectively reporting back on ED and depressive symptomology before and during the pandemic, the impact of social media, and coping strategies. A reduced quality of life (QoL) due to confinement was observed in almost half of female adolescents. All groups reported a significant perceived increase of disordered eating, overeating, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and emotion-regulation problems. In AN patients, significantly higher percentual deterioration of disordered eating and anxiety and depressive symptoms was found. For controls, a younger age and higher susceptibility of the sociocultural body image significantly correlated with increased disordered eating. Large-scale media literacy interventions are recommended.

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Loneliness and mental health in children and adolescents with pre‐existing mental health problems: A rapid systematic review

Cited by 89 publications

References 52 publications

Time to Sleep?—A Review of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep and Mental Health

Time to Sleep?—A Review of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep and Mental Health

Loneliness in Young Adults During the First Wave of COVID-19 Lockdown: Results From the Multicentric COMET Study

Effects of the COVID-19 Restrictions on Eating Behaviour and Eating Disorder Symptomology in Female Adolescents

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