PURPOSE

Using data on Norwegian adolescents, this study aimed to explore changes in mental health, quality of life, somatic health complaints and loneliness from before and one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, also considering the changes according to socioeconomic position (SEP).

METHODS

The study involved a cross-sectional comparative design with data from Young-HUNT4 (2017-2019) (n = 4347) and Young-HUNT COVID (May/June 2021) (n = 2033), aged 16-19 years. Additionally, longitudinal changes from Young-HUNT4 (n = 1565), aged 13-15 years, with follow-up in Young-HUNT COVID were explored. The impact of SEP was investigated through regression analyses and investigating prevalence changes in high and low SEP groups.

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional comparison, boys and girls reported higher levels of loneliness and mental distress (boys only) into the pandemic compared to before, while general health and quality of life remained stable. Longitudinally, all factors changed adversely except for general health in boys. Comparing younger (13-15 years) with older (16-19 years) adolescents from Young-HUNT4, demonstrated the same adverse pattern as in the longitudinal sample. Poor health, poor quality of life and loneliness were more prevalent in the low compared to the high SEP group. In the low SEP group, mental distress, poor general health and life quality worsened in boys while improved in girls during the study period.

CONCLUSION

Except for mental distress in boys, general health and life quality did not deteriorate in the study period, although loneliness increased in both sexes. In the low SEP group, girls seemed to cope better than boys where health and well-being even improved.