Pivot Youth Survey -- survey results

Why is this research being done?

We want to learn how young people with disabling mental health conditions are doing, especially as they deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study has 2 phases (learn more here).

This phase was a national online survey of young adults about their personal experiences, emotional wellness, physical health, coping, and missed milestones during the pandemic.

What did we propose to learn from the national survey?

How are young people with mental health conditions dealing with the pandemic?
How has the pandemic interfered with the things they want to be doing?
What are their strengths and what new things have they learned?
What needs and barriers are they facing in trying to get help or treatment?
How is their physical health?

Who responded to our survey?

Survey respondents were US residents aged 18 to 25 years, with a serious mental health condition. Survey measures included self-rated mental and physical health, pandemic-related disruptions, coping and resiliency, number of psychiatric diagnoses, number of physical health conditions, access to mental health and medical services, recent mental health symptoms, substance use, and demographic information. Also assessed was the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, physical health, and daily life, along with disruptions to normative life transitions.
The Qualtrics survey was available from March 26 to June 4, 2021.

967 young adults, aged 18-25 years, completed our national web survey. Respondents came from across the United States. The states shown in light green had the most respondents, followed by those in blue. States shown in brown had no respondents.

U.S. map showing distribution of survey respondents. States/districts with the most respondents included Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Texas. States that had no respondents were Rhode Island and South Dakota.

Graph showing that the majority of our respondents were aged 24-25, followed by those aged 22-23.

Graph showing that 63.2% were White, 20.6% Black/African American, 8.1% Asian, 6.6% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 1.4% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 0.1% Other.

Graph showing that 34.6% of respondents were Latinx/Hispanic, and 65.4% were not.

Graph showing that 49% had a male identity, 49% a female identity, and 2% were transgender, non-conforming, or other.

Graph showing that the majority of the respondents had some college education, followed by high school graduate, bachelor’s degree or higher, or some high school.

A look at disrupted milestones for young adults with mental health conditions

Young adult respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their mental health, physical health, and daily lives. They also indicated that the virus and mitigations to contain transmission disrupted common life events.

Learn more by reading our latest publication on social determinants, mental well-being, and disrupted milestones reported by these young adults.

Graph showing respondents reported COVID-19 related disruptions in work (38%), social network (38%), residential situation (28%), intimate partner relationships (23%), school cessation (22%), and deferment of post-secondary education (20%).

Graph showing that 34.4% of those who identified as American Indian/Alaska Native and 25.1% as female deferred their college plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graph showing that among those who identified as Hispanic/Latinx, 44.8% reported a disruption in employment and 29.9% reported school cessation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poorer mental and physical health during the pandemic also were associated with disruptions in typical life experiences for this age group.

Graph showing that among those who rated their health as poor, 27% reported school cessation, 31.4% reported school deferment, and 43.8% reported disruptions in their social relationships/activities.

Graph showing that among those who screened positive for depression, 21.9% deferred post-secondary education and 24.3% intimate partner disruptions.

Graph showing that among those who screened positive for anxiety disorder, 43.6% experienced a work disruption, 26.1% intimate partner disruptions, and 31.8% a disruption in where they were living.

Those who reported a greater number of physical health conditions were more likely to report school cessation, deferred post-secondary education, work disruption, intimate partner disruption, residential disruption, and social network disruption.

Those who reported a greater number of mental health conditions were more likely to report school cessation, work disruption, intimate partner disruption, residential disruption, and social network disruption.

A look at the physical health of young adults with mental health conditions

Young adult respondents also reported a high prevalence of obesity, migraines, allergies, asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders. In addition to their disabling mental health conditions, nearly one-quarter reported having two or more medical conditions.

Learn more by reading our latest publication on the prevalence of chronic medical conditions among young adults with serious mental health conditions.

Picture of Center collaborator with research poster at a conference

Survey results on disruptions & multiple chronic conditions presented at the 2024 NARRTC Annual Meeting!

View the presentation.

Survey results on disruptions presented at the International Association for Youth Mental Health Conference!

View the poster.

How will findings from this survey be helpful?

We learned how a large group of young people with disabling mental health conditions across the country feels about their health, wellness, challenges, successes, and more. These results can be used to recommend services and policies to improve the lives of young people.

This project is a collaboration with the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research at the UMass Chan Medical School.

What if I need help during COVID?

Painted wall with the words, You're Not Alone

Our Center’s COVID-19 Wellness Toolkit

UMass Transitions ACR’s COVID-19 Resources for Young Adults

We understand that this continues to be a difficult time for many people. If you would like someone to talk with, all U.S. states offer Warm Lines operated by trained staff. Find a warm line.

If you are in a crisis, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988 (for Spanish, text “Ayuda” to 988).

​What we learned from ourpivot to wellness study of Young Adults