Daily correlates to social distancing in U.S. young adults in 2021.

Abstract

We examined the relationship between social distancing and daily fluctuating variables like mood, loneliness, substance use, and current illness symptoms in a U.S. nationally representative sample of N = 772 young adults who had reported alcohol use in 12th grade. Participants completed up to 14 daily assessments in Spring 2021. We measured social distancing related to the COVID-19 pandemic and daily mood, loneliness, substance use, and illness symptoms. Around a third of the sample reported social distancing on all days, and a third reported no social distancing. Young adults tended to adhere to a consistent level of social distancing. Those who socially distanced the most also reported less alcohol consumption and higher loneliness. When social distancing increased within person, cold/flu symptoms were higher, and positive mood and alcohol consumption were lower. Future public health efforts may benefit from findings that social distancing was quite stable within person, and not influenced by daily level of loneliness. We did find evidence that young adults slightly increased social distancing on days when cold/flu symptoms were higher, suggesting some adherence to public health guidelines.