Study: Lockdowns didn’t significantly impact youths’ long term mental health

By Joe Morgan via SWNS

Lockdowns did not significantly impact young people's mental health in the long term, a new study found.

Many feared the mental health of young people quarantined at home for long stretches would badly suffer in the long run, but it appears they have been able to bounce back.

While the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns did have an impact temporarily, research shows teens have largely made it through intact.

Many young people who lived with depression before the pandemic say they found lockdowns easier to cope with even if they caused a worse impact in the long run.

Researchers say the reason why this could be because life became slower and less stressful, with less interaction with others, so some parts may have been easier.

The researchers collected data from approximately 30,000 young people aged 18-24 years, who before, during and after the lockdowns answered the same questions about quality of life, mental well-being and loneliness.

Dr. Katrine Strandberg-Larsen, from the University of Copenhagen, said: "We did not find any strong indicators of a continued negative effect on mental health measured as quality of life, mental well-being and loneliness.

"Neither in the first nor the second national lockdown.

“On a general level, the figures are reassuring, suggesting that the lockdowns did not have a long-term effect.

"We have previously shown that quality of life increased with reopening, and I therefore predict that we will soon see a similar normalisation of quality of life and mental well-being."

Dr. Stransberg-Larsen added: “The figures actually indicate that young people with depressive symptoms see an improvement.

"Of course, this may be because some are actually relieved when lockdowns cause society to slow down – but that is just guesswork.”

The study was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.