@article{ref1,
title="Loneliness, mental health, and substance use among US young adults during COVID-19",
journal="Journal of psychoactive drugs",
year="2020",
author="Horigian, Viviana E. and Schmidt, Renae D. and Feaster, Daniel J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="As COVID-19 converges with loneliness and addiction epidemics in the US, both public health and mental health experts forecast dramatic increases in substance use and mental health conditions. This cross-sectional study evaluated relationships of loneliness with depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use during COVID-19, and assessed perceived increases in these symptoms in young adults. Between April 22 and May 11, 2020, 1,008 participants ages 18-35 were recruited through social media to a one-time, online anonymous survey. Symptomatology was assessed using six scales. Perceived changes since COVID-19 were evaluated using 5-point Likert scales. Forty-nine percent of respondents reported loneliness scores above 50; 80% reported significant depressive symptoms; 61% reported moderate to severe anxiety; 30% disclosed harmful levels of drinking. While only 22% of the population reported using drugs, 38% reported severe drug use. Loneliness was associated with higher levels of mental health symptomatology. Participants reported significant increases across mental health and substance use symptoms since COVID-19. While direct impacts of COVID-19 could only be calculated with pre-pandemic assessments of these symptoms, estimates indicate elevated psychosocial symptomatology and suggest that symptoms could have worsened since the pandemic. <br><br>FINDINGS underscore the importance of prevention and intervention to address these public health problems.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0279-1072",
doi="10.1080/02791072.2020.1836435",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1836435"
}