Young people most likely to see mental health deteriorate during lockdown - but least likely to check on neighbours, ONS reveals

ONS revealed the results of its coronavirus survey
PA
Ellena Cruse22 June 2020

Young people have seen the biggest deterioration in mental health in lockdown, Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis revealed.

Around four in 10 who said coronavirus has affected their wellbeing believe the lockdown has made their mental state worse.

Some 42 per cent of participants aged 16-29 had seen deterioration, compared with 25 per cent aged 30-59 and 15 per cent of those people aged 60 and over.

The ONS figures cover the period between April 3 to May 10 and are based on responses to its regular opinions and lifestyle survey in Britain.

The survey also showed that young people were the biggest age group affected by loneliness.

Some 51 per cent of 16-29 year-olds felt lonely, compared with 27 per cent of 30-59 year-olds and 26 per cent of people aged 60 and over.

More young people felt lonely during Covid-19 than any other age group in an ONS survey
PA

However, when it came to checking on neighbours, the figures showed young people were least likely to monitor on those around them.

Nearly half (47 per cent) of 16-29-year-olds surveyed said that during the past seven days they had never checked on neighbours who might need help, compared with 30 per cent of those aged 30-59 years old and 25 per cent of people aged 60 and over.

Among those aged 80 and over, 22 per cent said they had checked on their neighbours three or more times during the past week – compared with just 10 per cent of people aged 16-29.

ONS asked participants of all ages how their mental health was during Covid-19
PA

When it came to dealing with the lockdown, the ONS found that 43 per cent of 16-29 year-olds had turned to cooking to help them cope – similar to the figure for 30-59 year-olds (46 per cent) and those aged 60 and over (42 per cent).

There was bigger variation among those who said they had been watching TV, films or using streaming services: 79 per cent of 16-29 year-olds, compared with 65 per cent of 30-59 year-olds and 51 per cent aged 60 and over.

Just 16 per cent of 16-29 year-olds had tried gardening – much lower than the 44 per cent of 30-59 year-olds and 63 per cent of people aged 60 and over.

Among those who said coronavirus was affecting their household finances, more than 8 in 10 (84 per cent) of people aged 16-29 said they seen reduced income during the past seven days.

Just over three-quarters of 30-59 year-olds (77per cent) reported reduced income, with the proportion falling in the older age groups: 66 per cent of 60-69 year-olds, 53 per cent of 70-79 year-olds, and 34 per cent of people aged 80 and over.

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