Mental Health of Young Australians during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Roles of Employment Precarity, Screen Time, and Contact with Nature

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is widely understood to have contributed to mental health problems. In Australia, young people (18–24 years) have been disproportionately affected. To date, research has predominantly focused on the presence or absence of mental illness symptoms, while aspects of mental well-being have been overlooked. We aimed to explore associations between potential risk and protective factors and mental health more comprehensively, using the Complete State Model of Mental Health. An online survey of 1004 young Australians (55% female; M age = 21.23) was undertaken. Assessment of both mental illness and mental well-being enabled participants to be cross-classified into four mental health states. Those with ‘Floundering’ (13%) or ‘Struggling’ (47.5%) mental health reported symptoms of mental illness; a ‘Languishing’ group (25.5%) did not report symptoms of mental illness but mental well-being was compromised relative to those who were ‘Flourishing’ (14%) with high mental well-being. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine associations, adjusting for socio-demographic confounders. Protective factors associated with Flourishing mental health included being in secure employment, using screen time to connect with others, and reporting high levels of hope. Both incidental and purposive contact with nature were also associated with Flourishing, while a lack of green/bluespace within walking distance was associated with Languishing, absence of outdoor residential space was associated with Floundering, and lower neighbourhood greenness was associated with all three suboptimal mental health states. Precarious employment, financial stress, living alone, reporting decreased screen time during lockdowns, lower levels of hope, and high disruption of core beliefs were also associated with Struggling and Floundering mental health. Those who were Languishing reported somewhat less hardship and little disruption to core beliefs, but lower levels of hope compared to young people who were Flourishing. This study highlights that young adults require dedicated mental health services to deal with current burden, but should also be supported through a range of preventive strategies which target mental health risk factors, like precarious employment, and enhance protective factors, such as urban green infrastructure.

Considering ecological determinants of youth mental health in the era of COVID‐19 and the Anthropocene: A call to action from young public health professionals

“…12 Developing health literacy around the mental health benefits of connecting with nature is especially important in the context of COVID-19, with research highlighting how nature engagement has protected young peoples' mental health during lockdowns. 13 Health services may also be reoriented to capitalise on the mental health benefits afforded by nature. For example, 'social prescribing', which enables health professionals to refer individuals to non-clinical services to support their health, may be used for youth mental health approaches.…”

“…Increased social connections and physical activity experienced in greenspaces also support young people's mental health 12 . Developing health literacy around the mental health benefits of connecting with nature is especially important in the context of COVID‐19, with research highlighting how nature engagement has protected young peoples’ mental health during lockdowns 13 …”

“…Increasing access to nature through urban greenspaces and green infrastructure is one intersectoral approach to creating cities that are environmentally healthy, increase biodiversity, and also support youth mental health. This is particularly important in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, with young Australians living in greener neighbourhoods reporting better mental health during lockdowns 13 . Given urban greenspace is inequitably distributed across Australia, 20 increasing access is particularly important for young people living in low socioeconomic areas, reiterating the social equity issues related to EDoH.…”

“… 12 Developing health literacy around the mental health benefits of connecting with nature is especially important in the context of COVID‐19, with research highlighting how nature engagement has protected young peoples’ mental health during lockdowns. 13 …”

“…This is particularly important in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, with young Australians living in greener neighbourhoods reporting better mental health during lockdowns. 13 Given urban greenspace is inequitably distributed across Australia, 20 increasing access is particularly important for young people living in low socioeconomic areas, reiterating the social equity issues related to EDoH.…”