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Hards, Emily, Loades, Maria Elizabeth, Higson-Sweeney, Nina, Shafran, Roz, Serafimova, Teona, Brigden, Amberley, Reynolds, Shirley, Crawley, Esther, Chatburn, Eleanor 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-6737, Linney, Catherine, McManus, Megan and Borwick, Catherine
(2022)
Loneliness and mental health in children and adolescents with pre-existing mental health problems: A rapid systematic review.
British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61 (2).
pp. 313-334.
ISSN 0144-6657
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Abstract
Objectives: Periods of social isolation are associated with loneliness in children and young people, and loneliness is associated with poor mental and physical health. Children and young people with pre-existing mental health difficulties may be prone to loneliness. Containment of COVID-19 has necessitated widespread social isolation, with unprecedented school closures and restrictions imposed on social interactions. This rapid review aimed to establish what is known about the relationship between loneliness and mental health problems in children and young people with pre-existing mental health problems. Methods: We sought to identify all primary research that examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between loneliness/perceived social isolation and mental health in children and young people with pre-existing mental health problems. We also aimed to identify effective interventions that reduce the adverse impact of loneliness. A rapid systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Results: Of 4,531 papers screened, 15 included children and young people with pre-existing mental health conditions. These 15 studies included 1,536 children and young people aged between 6 and 23 years with social phobia, anxiety and/or depression, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Loneliness was associated with anxiety and depression both cross-sectionally and prospectively in children and young people with mental health problems and neurodevelopmental conditions. We found preliminary evidence that psychological treatments can help to reduce feelings of loneliness in this population. Conclusions: Loneliness is associated with depression and anxiety in children and young people with pre-existing mental health conditions, and this relationship may be bidirectional. Existing interventions to address loneliness and/or mental health difficulties in other contexts may be applied to this population, although they may need adaptation and testing in younger children and adolescents. Practitioner points: Loneliness is common in children and young people, and during periods of enforced social isolation such as during COVID-19, children and young people report high levels of loneliness (or increased rates of loneliness). The review showed that loneliness is associated, both cross-sectionally and prospectively, in children and young people with mental health problems and also in children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder. Thus, loneliness is a possible risk factor of which mental health providers should be aware. Maintaining social contact both by direct and by indirect means, especially through the Internet, could be important in mitigating loneliness. Interventions to address loneliness should be further developed and tested to help children and young people with pre-existing mental health problems who are lonely by preventing exacerbation of their mental health difficulties, in particular anxiety and depression.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Additional Information: | Funding Information: Dr Loades is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship, DRF‐2016‐09‐021). Ms Brigden is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship, DRF‐2017‐10‐169). All research at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health is made possible by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. This report is independent research. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Funding Information: Dr Loades is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship, DRF-2016-09-021). Ms Brigden is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship, DRF-2017-10-169). All research at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health is made possible by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. This report is independent research. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adolescents,anxiety,children,depression,loneliness,social isolation,clinical psychology,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3203 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Nov 2022 14:30 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Oct 2023 03:28 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/89890 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/bjc.12331 |
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