“We Are at Risk Too”: The Disparate Mental Health Impacts of the Pandemic on Younger Generations: Nous Sommes Aussi à Risque: Les Effets Disparates de la Pandémie Sur la Santé Mentale des Générations Plus Jeunes
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Abstract
Objectives: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in profound global impact, with older adults at greater risk of serious physical health outcomes. It is essential to also understand generational differences in psychosocial impacts to identify appropriate prevention and intervention targets. Across generational groups, this study examined: (1) rates of precautions and adaptive and maladaptive health behaviors, (2) differences in levels of anxiety, and (3) rates of COVID-related concerns during Wave 1 of COVID-19 in Canada. Participants: We analyzed data from 2 Canadian population-based data sets: the Canadian Perspective Survey Series: Impact of COVID-19 survey ( N = 4,627; March 29 to April 3, 2020), and Crowdsourcing: Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians—Your Mental Health ( N = 45,989; April 24 to May 11, 2020). Measures: We categorized generational age group. Participants self-reported changes in behaviors and COVID-related concerns, and a validated measure assessed anxiety symptoms. Results: There are generational differences in behavioral responses to the pandemic. Adaptive health habits (e.g., exercise) were comparable across groups, while changes in maladaptive health habits (e.g., substance use) were highest among younger age groups, particularly Millennials (15 to 34 years old). COVID-related precautions were also highest among the younger generations, with Generation X (35 to 54 years old) exhibiting the highest rate of precautionary behavior. Results also revealed that the highest rate of clinically significant anxiety is among Millennials (36.0%; severe anxiety = 15.7%), and the younger generations have the highest rates of COVID-related concerns. Conclusion: These early data are essential in understanding at-risk groups given the unpredictable nature of the pandemic and its potential long-term implications.
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COVID-related worry is associated with psychological distress during the pandemic.
“Several studies have shown that COVID-related worry is associated with psychological distress in the pandemic [7–9].”
From Worry and mental health in the Covid-19 pandemic: vulnerability factors in the general Norwegian population (2021) · cites this paper as [7]
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- Authors
- El-Gabalawy, R., & Sommer, J. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Corresponding author
- El-Gabalawy, Renée
- Venue
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2021-02-01
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 634-644
- ISSN
- 0706-7437 (ISSN-L)
- 1497-0015
- PMC
- PMC8239993
- OpenAlex
- W3128072095
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13
- FWCI
- 7.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- medRxiv (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Manitoba (Start-up funding)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › COVID-19 Prevention and Impact
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, generational differences, mental health, anxiety, young adults, millennials, health behavior, substance use, adaptive and maladaptive behavior, physical activity
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Canada, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Population Surveillance, Health Behavior, Age Distribution, Young Adult, Pandemics
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