Loneliness Trajectories, Associated Factors and Subsequent Health in Children and Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Matched Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose Loneliness is common amongst children and young people (CYP) and is an independent risk factor for poor health. This study aimed to i) determine whether subgroups of CYP with different loneliness trajectories (during the second year of the pandemic) exist; ii) examine associations with socio-demographic characteristics and subsequent health; and iii) understand whether associations between loneliness and subsequent health were modified by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods A total of 5851 CYP (N=3260 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 2591 SARS-CoV-2 negative) provided data on loneliness (via the validated 3-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale for Children) at least twice in a 12-month period post PCR index-testing (conducted October 2020-March 2021). Latent class growth analyses were used to identify distinct classes of loneliness trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with class membership. Logistic regression models assessed the odds of reporting impairing symptoms 12-months post index-test. Results Four distinct loneliness trajectories were identified: three mostly stable (low, medium, high) and one low-increasing trajectory. Being older, female, living in more deprived areas and testing negative were associated with greater odds of being in the highest vs lowest loneliness trajectory; eg OR for female vs male: 5.6 (95% CI:4.1,7.8); OR for 15–17 vs 11–14 years: 4.5 (95% CI:3.4,6.0). Following higher loneliness trajectories was associated with higher odds of experiencing impairing symptoms 12-months post index-test: OR adjusted (compared to lowest loneliness trajectory) were 15.9 (95% CI:11.9,21.3) (high loneliness), 6.5 (5.3,7.9) (medium loneliness) and 2.3 (1.9,2.8) (low-increasing loneliness). There was no evidence that this association was modified by PCR index-test result. Conclusion About 5.3% of CYP were classified into a group experiencing (chronically) high loneliness. Being female, older and from more deprived areas were risk factors of belonging to this group. Results suggest that even small increases from low loneliness levels may be associated with worse health outcomes.

Cohort profile: The Social media, smartphone use and Self-harm in Young People (3S-YP) study–A prospective, observational cohort study of young people in contact with mental health services

“…Traditional methods of bullying (e.g., social exclusion) were more frequently reported than cyberbullying and cyberbullying was lower than expected considering prior research and the profile of our cohort [ 52 , 53 ], in particular the high levels of digital technology usage. Mean baseline scores on the Three-Item Loneliness Scale were higher than reports from general population data [ 54 ], but correspond to other clinical population studies, suggesting it may relate to impairment in social functioning that can be symptomatic of some mental health conditions [ 55 ]. Loneliness may also be exacerbated by excessive time spent online, that would be otherwise spent investing in offline social networks [ 56 , 57 ].…”

Data Resource Profile: the Children and Young People with Long COVID (CLoCk) Study

“… 11 One further study shows that during the pandemic, females, older adolescents and those from deprived areas were at higher risk of loneliness. 13 CLoCk data have also shown that there has been a small decline in mental health among participating CYP during the pandemic, with females and older adolescents having a higher risk of deterioration. 29 In initial CLoCk study publications, test-positive CYP were compared with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 test-negative CYP 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 [and we excluded CYP who had been (re-)infected after their baseline PCR-test].…”