Loneliness in Scottish Adolescents Before, During and After the First National UK Lockdown

PurposeWhile lockdowns are essential in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures may increase risk of loneliness in adolescents. In this paper, we investigate how lockdown affects loneliness in adolescents and potential protective factors. MethodsThis study examines 768 young people in Scotland age 12 to 17, who took part in TeenCovidLife surveys during and after the first national lockdown in 2020. Survey 1 ran from May to July 2020, during the first school closures period. Survey 2 ran from August to October 2020, after schools reopened for most pupils. Participants reported current loneliness and pre-pandemic loneliness. Participants also completed self-report measures of resilience and social support.ResultsLoneliness increased from pre-pandemic levels during lockdown and then decreased when restrictions eased. However, loneliness remained significantly higher post-lockdown compared to pre-pandemic. Predictors of loneliness were assessed with ordinal logistic regression. Greater resilience was associated with lower loneliness at all stages of lockdown, but older teens were more likely to be lonely post-lockdown. Greater peer support was associated with lower loneliness before lockdown. However, during lockdown, family support was associated with lower loneliness. After schools re-opened, participants with greater social support from school staff were 15% less likely to be lonely.ConclusionLoneliness was higher during lockdown than before lockdown. Moreover, loneliness remained higher after lockdown than before lockdown. However, resilience and social support in school may protect against this lingering loneliness. Resilience training and school-based social support programmes may reduce the long-term effects of lockdown on well-being in young people.