Medindia
Discover the benefits of premium membership Click Here
Medindia » Coronavirus News

Children's Loneliness Today may Manifest in Depression for Years to Come

by Iswarya on June 1, 2020 at 11:05 AM

Kids and teens are most likely to experience high rates of anxiety and depression even after current lockdown, and social isolation ends, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.


The research, which draws on over 60 pre-existing, peer-reviewed studies into topics spanning isolation, loneliness and mental health for young people aged 4 - 21.

‘Lonely young people might be as much as three times more likely to develop depression in the future, and that the impact of loneliness on mental health could last for at least nine years. ’

The studies highlight an association between loneliness and an increased risk of mental health problems for young people. There is also evidence that duration of loneliness may be more important than the intensity of loneliness in increasing the risk of future depression among young people.

This, say the authors, should act as a warning to policymakers of the expected rise in demand for mental health services from young people and young adults in the years to come - both here in the UK and around the world.

Dr. Maria Loades, a clinical psychologist from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath who led the work, explained: "From our analysis, it is clear there are strong associations between loneliness and depression in young people, both in the immediate and the longer-term. We know this effect can sometimes be lagged, meaning it can take up to 10 years to really understand the scale of the mental health impact the COVID-19 crisis has created."

For teachers and policymakers currently preparing for a phased re-start of schools in the UK, scheduled from today, Monday 1 June, Dr. Loades suggests that the research could have important implications for how this process is managed.

She adds: "There is evidence that it's the duration of loneliness as opposed to the intensity which seems to have the biggest impact on depression rates in young people. This means that returning to some degree of normality as soon as possible is, of course, important. However, how this process is managed matters when it comes to shaping young people's feelings and experiences about this period.

"For our youngest and their return to school from this week, we need to prioritize the importance of play in helping them to reconnect with friends and adjust following this intense period of isolation."

Members of the review team were also involved in a recent open letter to UK Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson MP, focusing on support for children's social and emotional wellbeing during and after lockdown. In their letter, they suggested that:


Acknowledging the trade-offs that need to be struck in terms of re-starting the economy and reducing educational disparities, their letter to the Education Secretary concludes: 'Poor emotional health in children leads to long term mental health problems, poorer educational attainment and has a considerable economic burden.'

Source: Eurekalert

View Non AMP Site | Back to top ↑