October 5, 2020

Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Young Adults Most at Risk

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Mental Health and Personal Impact

Keywords (Tags): mental health personal impact

• Young adults were more sensitive to lockdown conditions and psychological distress compared to older adults in a multinational study. An online survey conducted from April 17 to May 1, 2020 among 2,871 participants in Belgium, France and Canada found that during confinement, young participants aged 18–30 years reported having less living space and lower occupational activity, social contact, and alcohol use, but higher anxiety, depression and uncertainty than older participants aged 30-50 years and >50 years. The authors suggest considering different age groups when developing strategies for deconfinement as well as the importance of targeting 18–30-year-olds, who have been especially vulnerable.

Glowacz and Schmits. (Sep 25, 2020). Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Young Adults Most at Risk. Psychiatry Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113486