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Trajectories of Loneliness in Canadian Adolescents over the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Title: Trajectories of Loneliness in Canadian Adolescents over the COVID-19 Pandemic
Language: English
Authors: Kristi Baerg MacDonald (ORCID 0000-0002-2967-9761), Karen A. Patte, Scott T. Leatherdale, Julie Aitken Schermer
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2026 62(4):848-861.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Social Isolation, Adolescents, COVID-19, Pandemics, School Closing, High School Students, Growth Models, Longitudinal Studies, Interpersonal Relationship, Depression (Psychology), Measures (Individuals), Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Social Support Groups
Geographic Terms: Canada
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
DOI: 10.1037/dev0002065
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: Increases in adolescent loneliness were a significant concern during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. We use longitudinal survey data from the Cannabis Use, Obesity, Mental Health, Physical Activity, Alcohol Use, Smoking, and Sedentary Behavior study from 2017 to 2023 to assess whether increases in loneliness correspond to lockdowns, whether different cohorts differ in the trajectories of loneliness ratings and whether social support and relationships impact the course of loneliness throughout secondary school. We compared linear latent growth models and latent basis growth models of annual repeated measures of loneliness from three 4-year cohorts of Canadian high school students (N = 5,237, female = 3,166, 80.42% White). For the 2017-2021 cohort, a linear model fit best, while nonlinear models were the best fit for the 2018-2022 and 2019-2023 cohorts. Ratings of loneliness were highest at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic across all three cohorts and stabilized in the years following. Growth mixture models identified groups with differing trajectories of loneliness where lowest loneliness was associated with positive relationship quality of family and friends. Overall, the study demonstrated heterogeneity in loneliness trajectories across time between and within cohorts. The patterns were consistent with increases during COVID-19 lockdowns and a return to typical levels as social restrictions eased.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503375
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Trajectories of Loneliness in Canadian Adolescents over the COVID-19 Pandemic
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kristi+Baerg+MacDonald%22">Kristi Baerg MacDonald</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2967-9761">0000-0002-2967-9761</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karen+A%2E+Patte%22">Karen A. Patte</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scott+T%2E+Leatherdale%22">Scott T. Leatherdale</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julie+Aitken+Schermer%22">Julie Aitken Schermer</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Psychology%22"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 62(4):848-861.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 14
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Isolation%22">Social Isolation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Closing%22">School Closing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Growth+Models%22">Growth Models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Relationship%22">Interpersonal Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Depression+%28Psychology%29%22">Depression (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measures+%28Individuals%29%22">Measures (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Symptoms+%28Individual+Disorders%29%22">Symptoms (Individual Disorders)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Support+Groups%22">Social Support Groups</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Center+for+Epidemiologic+Studies+Depression+Scale%22">Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0002065
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  Data: 0012-1649<br />1939-0599
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Increases in adolescent loneliness were a significant concern during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. We use longitudinal survey data from the Cannabis Use, Obesity, Mental Health, Physical Activity, Alcohol Use, Smoking, and Sedentary Behavior study from 2017 to 2023 to assess whether increases in loneliness correspond to lockdowns, whether different cohorts differ in the trajectories of loneliness ratings and whether social support and relationships impact the course of loneliness throughout secondary school. We compared linear latent growth models and latent basis growth models of annual repeated measures of loneliness from three 4-year cohorts of Canadian high school students (N = 5,237, female = 3,166, 80.42% White). For the 2017-2021 cohort, a linear model fit best, while nonlinear models were the best fit for the 2018-2022 and 2019-2023 cohorts. Ratings of loneliness were highest at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic across all three cohorts and stabilized in the years following. Growth mixture models identified groups with differing trajectories of loneliness where lowest loneliness was associated with positive relationship quality of family and friends. Overall, the study demonstrated heterogeneity in loneliness trajectories across time between and within cohorts. The patterns were consistent with increases during COVID-19 lockdowns and a return to typical levels as social restrictions eased.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1503375
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        Value: 10.1037/dev0002065
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 848
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Isolation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: School Closing
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      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Growth Models
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      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
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      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Depression (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Measures (Individuals)
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      – SubjectFull: Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
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      – SubjectFull: Social Support Groups
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      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
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      – TitleFull: Trajectories of Loneliness in Canadian Adolescents over the COVID-19 Pandemic
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              Y: 2026
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