Poll: Pandemic takes toll on mental health of young adults A new poll has found that the coronavirus pandemic has taken a harsh toll on the mental health of young adults in the United StatesPHOENIX -- The coronavirus pandemic has taken a harsh toll on the mental health of young Americans, according to a new poll that finds adults under 35 especially likely to report negative feelings or experience physical or emotional symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. Twenty-five percent of young adults rate their mental health as fair or poor, compared with 13% of older adults, while 56% of older adults say their mental health is excellent or very good, compared with just 39% of young adults. One possible explanation for the age gap could be that young adults have less experience dealing with a public health crisis, said Tom Smith, who has directed NORC's General Social Survey since 1980. The survey found that frequently watching, reading or talking about the virus is consistently linked with higher rates of negative mental health symptoms. The survey found 67% of young adults, but just 50% of those older, say they have at least sometimes felt that they were unable to control the important things in life.

Source: ABC News September 11, 2020 12:31 UTC