The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented stay-at-home orders globally, resulting in widespread social isolation. While social isolation's impact on well-being is known, research during a pandemic, especially on younger and middle-aged adults, is limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating the prevalence of perceived social isolation across the adult age range during the initial COVID-19 mitigation efforts. It explores the correlation between perceived social isolation and factors like duration of distancing, perceived personal risk of infection, life satisfaction, trust in institutions, and coping strategies. The study hypothesizes that perceived social isolation would affect individuals of all ages, impact coping mechanisms, and mediate life satisfaction and trust in institutions.

Existing research predominantly focuses on the elderly, linking social isolation to decreased life satisfaction, depression, and poor psychological well-being. While some studies show similar negative outcomes for younger adults, the specific effects of pandemic-related isolation remain unclear. Studies have highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of social isolation, distinguishing between external (frequency of contact) and internal (perceived loneliness, trust, relationship satisfaction) isolation. The detrimental effects of social isolation extend beyond mental health, impacting physical health and mortality risk to a degree comparable to smoking and alcohol abuse.

A 42-item electronic survey was administered to 309 adults aged 18-84. The survey included items from the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and Measures of Social Isolation (Zavaleta et al., 2017), along with pandemic-specific questions. Data collection used a snowball sampling method, starting with diverse contacts across academic and non-academic settings. The survey comprised Likert scale items, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended questions. The data collection period was from late March to early April 2020, a time when distancing mandates were in place for a significant portion of the sample. Ethical approval was obtained from Cabrini University's Institutional Review Board.

The sample comprised mostly females (80.3%) and Caucasians (71.5%). Younger adults (18-29) reported significantly higher social isolation than older groups. Perceived social isolation correlated with lower life satisfaction across domains (overall, food, housing, and work). Higher levels of social isolation were linked to less trust in central government and business institutions but not local government. Job loss significantly increased social isolation. Substance use as a coping mechanism was also strongly associated with higher social isolation. There was no significant relationship between social isolation and the use of other coping strategies (exercise, outdoor time, virtual communication).

The study confirms that perceived social isolation is a significant issue during a pandemic, affecting all age groups, but particularly impacting young adults. The results highlight the correlation between social isolation and multiple negative outcomes, including reduced life satisfaction, decreased trust in institutions, and negative coping mechanisms (substance use). The findings underscore the importance of considering social interaction needs in remote work policies and the necessity of assessing social isolation when evaluating overall well-being during and after crises. The reduced trust in institutions among those experiencing high social isolation points to a potential challenge in delivering support effectively to those who need it most.

This study demonstrates the significant impact of perceived social isolation on mental and potentially physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young adults were disproportionately affected. The strong correlations between social isolation and life satisfaction, trust in institutions, and coping mechanisms emphasize the need to incorporate measures of social isolation into broader health assessments and interventions. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to track the long-term effects of pandemic-related isolation.

The sample's demographics (overrepresentation of females and individuals with post-secondary education) may limit generalizability. The study's cross-sectional nature limits causal inferences. The possibility that pre-existing social isolation might have influenced participants' responses cannot be entirely ruled out.