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Mental Health and Wellbeing in Young People in the UK during Lockdown (COVID-19)

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Owens

    (Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK)

  • Ellen Townsend

    (Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Eleanor Hall

    (Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK)

  • Tanisha Bhatia

    (Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK)

  • Rosie Fitzgibbon

    (Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK)

  • Francesca Miller-Lakin

    (Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the levels of mental wellbeing and potential for clinical need in a sample of UK university students aged 18–25 during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also tested the dose-response relationship between the severity of lockdown restrictions and mental wellbeing. We carried out a prospective shortitudinal study (one month between baseline and follow up) during the pandemic to do this and included 389 young people. We measured a range of facets of mental wellbeing, including depression, depressogenic cognition (rumination), wellbeing, stress and sleep disturbance. Our primary outcome was ‘probable depression’ as indexed by a score of ≥10 on the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-8). The prevalence of probable depression was significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels (55%) and did not decrease significantly over time (52%). Higher levels of lockdown severity were prospectively associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Nearly all students had at least one mental wellbeing concern at either time point (97%). The evidence suggests that lockdown has caused a wellbeing crisis in young people. The associated long-term mental, social, educational, personal and societal costs are as yet unknown but should be tracked using further longitudinal studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Owens & Ellen Townsend & Eleanor Hall & Tanisha Bhatia & Rosie Fitzgibbon & Francesca Miller-Lakin, 2022. "Mental Health and Wellbeing in Young People in the UK during Lockdown (COVID-19)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1132-:d:729308
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Virat Agrawal & Jonathan H. Cantor & Neeraj Sood & Christopher M. Whaley, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Policy Responses on Excess Mortality," NBER Working Papers 28930, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chiara Baiano & Gennaro Raimo & Isa Zappullo & Marialaura Marra & Roberta Cecere & Luigi Trojano & Massimiliano Conson, 2022. "Empathy through the Pandemic: Changes of Different Emphatic Dimensions during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-8, February.
    2. Telmo Raul Aveiro-Róbalo & Luciana Daniela Garlisi-Torales & Marisella Chumán-Sánchez & César J. Pereira-Victorio & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Matthew Owens & Hannah L. I. Bunce, 2022. "Nature-Based Meditation, Rumination and Mental Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Chang-Lan Xia & An-Pin Wei & Yu-Ting Huang, 2022. "The COVID-19 Lockdown and Mental Wellbeing of Females in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-19, April.

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