Teens in Quarantine: Mental Health, Screen Time, and Family Connection 2020

"American teens had surprisingly good outcomes during the pandemic, with decreases in depression and loneliness and only small increases in unhappiness and dissatisfaction with life. Indeed, 53 percent of teens said they have become stronger and more resilient during the pandemic. Although teens were worried about health, economic stressors, and the protests, these challenges were seemingly offset by increases in sleep time and family time. Nevertheless, depression, loneliness, and unhappiness are still at unacceptably high levels among American teens. Although the pandemic did not appear to worsen these trends, mental health among teens was suffering before the pandemic, with depression hitting all-time highs.14,15 Many teens are still in need of mental-health services, and the pandemic has not changed that reality. These results suggest that once the pandemic has lifted, later school start times and more family time may be helpful in mitigating teen depression. Surprisingly, teens’ use of social media and electronic gaming during their leisure time did not increase. However, they did spend more time watching TV and videos, which in modern life often serve as social connection as well as passive entertainment. Girls spent more time than boys did using social media; for boys, it was gaming they preferred more than girls did. Although teens are concerned about the current state of race relations in the country, most support the protests around racial justice. Overall, teens during the pandemic appear to have managed the challenges of 2020 with resilience, taking comfort in their families and the slower pace of life."