Social Connectedness, Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being at the Later Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Exploration
Abstract
COVID-19 posed novel challenges by limiting in-person interactions and shifting interactions online. Effects of online and offline social connectedness on adolescent mental health and well-being, and the moderating role of the social determinants of health (SDoH) were explored. Canadian adolescents (n=1,586; Mage=15.3, range 13 to 18 years; surveyed summer 2022) reported their social connectedness, psychological distress, and mental well-being. An ordinal logistic regression was performed to examine the association between social connectedness (online and offline) and dual-factor mental health. Responses to two open-ended survey questions were analyzed. Social disconnection was associated with higher odds of being in a poorer mental state, with a stronger association for offline than online social connectedness. The SDoH may moderate this relationship. Participants described negative and positive pandemic-related changes to relationships, mental health and well-being. Although online and offline social connectedness both contribute to adolescent mental health and well-being, offline social connectedness appears more impactful.