The lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic sent a shockwave through the lives of teens and young adults across America. At such an age when connection and community play cosmic roles in the development of the human psyche, to be abruptly cut off is cataclysmic.
From going to school and having interactions with friends on a daily basis to near-complete isolation overnight, it is no wonder that such an event would leave a lasting impact on the lives of growing adolescents.
According to a 2021 study on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Social Relationships and Health:
“A key ingredient for well-being is ‘getting together’ in a physical sense. This is fundamental to a human need for intimate touch, physical comfort, reinforcing interactional norms, and providing practical support. Emerging evidence suggests that online ways of relating cannot simply replace physical interactions” (Long).
The evolutionary human necessity for social interaction and community meant that, as the pandemic rolled over the nations, many people were left scrambling for how to find that connection without physically leaving their houses.
Purdue Research did a piece on the change in the personal lives of Americans throughout the pandemic, finding that:
“More than any other issue, Americans responded by bringing up how the pandemic has altered their ability to engage with friends and family. The single most common category of comments (mentioned by 41% of those who answered the question) centered around missing family and friends and worrying about losing touch with people they used to see in person” (pewresearch.org).
Local students at George Fox were interviewed regarding their experience with the lockdown and its effects on their social lives.
“The COVID-19 lockdown definitely isolated me. I was a sophomore in high school when it first happened, and then my school continued online learning through junior and some of my senior year. These are extremely socially formative years for young adults, and I definitely feel that time was taken away from me.”
This is a testament that many individuals seem to share. Another student responded by claiming that:
“…I consider myself to be pretty outgoing, but I often struggle with peers being somewhat unresponsive to my invites, and I do attribute this to the pandemic's lockdown. I believe people became complacent and accepting of being alone during this long period of solitude, and I do not believe God made us to be alone.”
Not only were social lives affected, but also the growing mindset of the recent generations. A student claims that:
“I know young children who are struggling to read and write because of their lack of learning during the lockdowns. I know teens who seem more prone to selfishness and meltdowns because they didn't learn the skill of sharing and caring about others.”
They continued later in the interview to add that they also “...know people my age that often distance themselves from others because we didn't practice being emotionally and socially vulnerable. I am more than worried for my generation and the next generation. We have a lot of work to do to relearn these social skills, and I do not see our lack of acknowledgment of the problem as a good start.”
So what does this mean going forward? Obviously, there is no way to go back and change how the time of isolation and unease affected the growing minds of the modern generation. However, society can look towards making a change to better reacclimate young adults into social situations.
The students were questioned regarding how the schools and universities could better aid in their social recovery post-lockdown. Many claimed that having common places to meet outside of a dorm is nice and gives people a chance to "'bump into each other,' except of course, it's not really bumping into each other by chance... We're going there because we are seeking out community."
“Especially in college, people might not see their dorms as a comfortable meeting place, and usually people are trying to work when they're in the library…More casual spaces can be extremely helpful to create an environment that is focused on community.”
Another common response was increasing the support options for mental health.
"I think that schools and colleges could help provide support for students post-lockdown by putting an emphasis on mental health services and creating environments where students can connect with each other freely," said a sophomore claiming to have spent the majority of their high school years in isolation.
The pandemic and its resultant lockdowns have had a profound impact on the social lives of young adults and teenagers. The sudden lack of physical interaction and community has left a lasting effect on the developing minds of this generation.
As the world moves away from the time of lockdown, people are forced to learn how to interact with each other again. It is imperative to focus on ways to reacclimate individuals to social situations and provide them with the necessary support for their mental health. By doing so, society can create an environment that fosters a sense of belonging and community among young adults.
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