Confinement increases anxiety in young people, according to study 1:23
(CNN) -
The early stages of the coronavirus pandemic and the first confinement by covid-19 caused the number of young people with anxiety to almost double, according to a study by the University of Bristol.
The study, published Tuesday, found that the number of people with anxiety increased from 13% to 24% in young people between the ages of 27 and 29.
That number was higher than his parents'.
The researchers found that even as confinement restrictions began to ease in June, anxiety levels remained high.
Experts said they expect the situation to continue into winter.
The researchers used information from the Bristol Children of the 90s health study, which recruited 14,500 pregnant women, in 1991 and 1992, to collect nearly three decades of data on the health and lifestyle of mothers and fathers. their babies, who are now approaching 30 years.
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While many of the observed participants were from the southwestern part of England, the findings were also seen in an additional group of 4,000 Scottish individuals.
According to the researchers, this implies that the effects of the quarantine are not specific to the young people in the study.
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"Highly detailed data from the Children of the 90s questionnaire reveals a worrying increase in anxiety among young people," said co-lead investigator Dr Alex Kwong of the University of Bristol.
"It appears to be due to the pandemic itself and potentially the social and economic consequences caused by the containment measures used to control the spread of the virus."
"The evidence suggests that this will not be a problem in the short term and that mental health support and interventions are urgently needed to reduce some of the emerging mental health inequalities," Kwong added.
Anxiety rates increased in young people due to covid-19 confinement
The study used data from previous years with findings from two Covid-19 questionnaires from this year to understand the impact of the pandemic on mental health.
The researchers found that women who had pre-existing health conditions, those who lived alone during the pandemic, those who were self-isolating, and those with recent financial problems were at risk for poorer mental health.
"The findings suggest that there is a need to protect mental health at this time (especially anxiety management) and support mental health services," said Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Rebecca Pearson.
Internet searches for keywords like 'anxiety' rose to unprecedented levels at the beginning of the pandemic
Internet searches on panic and anxiety skyrocket 2:11
“It is especially important to learn lessons from the first lockdown now that we are in a second quarantine.
The findings also provide evidence to support specific groups at increased risk for mental health, such as those living alone.
The studies echo what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in August, in which the number of Americans reporting anxiety symptoms tripled compared to the same time of year past.
One report found that Americans are experiencing more covid-19-related mental health problems than people in other countries, and the CDC says the pandemic has brought a mental health crisis to the United States.
- CNN's Naomi Thomas and Sam Romano contributed to this report.
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