Loneliness Across the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Factors in Norwegian Young People

Abstract

Background: There is evidence of increasing levels of loneliness in Norwegian young people before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not clear how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated necessary restrictions, impacted on these trends.

Aims: To examine how loneliness in young people changed across the pandemic, how loneliness relates to demographic characteristics and how different pandemic restrictions impacted loneliness.

Method: We analyzed data from three waves of a Norwegian national higher education student survey (the SHoT-study). Data was examined from 2018 from a total of 49,836 students, 2021 from 62,212 students, and from 2022 from 53,362 (response rates 31-35%). Loneliness was measured by "The Three-Item Loneliness Scale" (T-ILS).

Results: There was a sharp increase in loneliness from 2018 to 2021, and a reduction in levels of loneliness in 2022, although at increased levels compared to prior to the pandemic. Females consistently report higher levels of loneliness than males, with a larger difference during the peak of the pandemic. There were higher rates of loneliness in geographical regions with higher COVID rates and greater pandemic-related restrictions during 2021. Loneliness was lower among students reporting more days on campus in 2021 and for those with lectures on campus in 2022, both with dose-response associations.

Conclusions: Loneliness is a major public health problem among young adults in higher education. Loneliness increased during the pandemic and has decreased but is still not back to pre-pandemic levels. The results suggest the importance of open campuses and in-person lectures, for increased social connectedness among young people.

Keywords: COVID-19; loneliness; mental health; social isolation; young adult.

Figure 1. Trend in Loneliness From 2018 to 2022 Among Female and Male Students in the SHoT Study

Note. Red diamonds represent gender differences expressed as Cohen’s h.

Figure 2. Loneliness and Age Group (in Men and Women Combined) in the SHoT 2021 and SHoT 2022 Studies

Note. Red diamonds represent differences between 2021 and 2022 expressed as Cohen’s h (with 95% confidence intervals).

Figure 3. Geographical Differences in Number of Positive COVID-19 Cases (Panel A), COVID-Related Restrictions (Panel B) and Loneliness Prevalence (With 95% Confidence Intervals) in the SHoT 2021 Study (T-ILS; Panel C)

Note. Data for all three figures are based on the situation in March (only) 2021. Sources: A–B: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health. $ Estimated loneliness prevalence (any of the three T-ILS items “often” or “very often”), adjusting for sociodemographic and COVID-19 factors (# of tests, positive test, quarantine).

Figure 4. Loneliness by Campus Closure Due to COVID-19 in the SHoT 2021 Study

Note. Red diamonds represent gender differences expressed as Cohen’s h.

Figure 5. Loneliness and Lack of Friends by Degree of Digital Lectures in the SHoT 2022 Study

Note. Red diamonds represent gender differences expressed as Cohen’s h.