Contrary to the widespread belief that the pandemic and isolation only negatively impacted the mental health of adolescents, a new study by scientists at Nagoya University has revealed a completely different picture. Adolescents in Tokyo experienced depression less frequently during the lockdown period than during regular school life.
The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, is unique because scientists had been observing the students even before the pandemic began, allowing for a precise analysis of the changes.
What Did the Study Reveal?
The study showed that before the pandemic, students were 11 times more likely to be in a healthy mental state than a depressive one. During the lockdown, however, this ratio increased to 15–18 times. For the study, researchers utilized a method known as “Energy Landscape Analysis.”
“Energy Landscape Analysis” is a scientific method that maps a person’s mental state on a visual landscape where healthy and depressive moods resemble basins or “pits.” The deeper the pit, the more stable that state is, and the more energy it takes for a person to move out of it.
The study found that during the lockdown, the “healthy pit” deepened significantly for Tokyo adolescents, meaning that staying in a positive mental state became 15–18 times more natural and stable for them. At the same time, the “depressive pit” became shallower, making it much easier for those experiencing psychological difficulties to return to a healthy mood.
Two Distinct Groups
Researchers identified two primary groups of adolescents who had different psychological reactions during the pandemic. They were categorized based on the stability of their mental state during isolation.
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The Stable Group (73%): This group comprised the majority of adolescents who almost never experienced depression. Their mental state remained resilient throughout the lockdown, and they exhibited practically no serious emotional fluctuations.
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The Fluctuating Group: This group included adolescents whose depressive moods appeared and disappeared periodically. Their emotional state was dynamic, frequently shifting between a healthy mood and depressive episodes.
MRI scans revealed a significant biological difference between these two groups. Specifically, in the fluctuating group, changes occurred much faster in brain regions associated with high cognitive functions, which explains their emotional instability.
Scientists suggest that for many adolescents, the lockdown provided relief from the daily psychological stress caused by school and social activities. The pause in their regular routine allowed them to escape social pressure.
