As societies globally begin to emerge from the profound disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, questions around the social well-being of younger generations have taken center stage. A groundbreaking study led by Read, Kiuru, Helenius, and colleagues delves into an issue of growing concern: whether social connectedness among secondary school students in Finland continues to decline or shows signs of recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic. Published in BMC Psychology, this research presents a thorough longitudinal analysis spanning from 2017 through 2023, providing fresh insights into how formative adolescent social networks have evolved during these transformative years.
Social connectedness, broadly defined as the sense of belonging and meaningful interpersonal engagement within one’s community, has long been recognized as a critical pillar of mental health and well-being. For adolescents, the school environment is a primary social ecosystem wherein friendships, peer support, and communal identity are forged and strengthened. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, imposed unprecedented interruptions to these dynamics, with lockdown measures, remote schooling, and social distancing dramatically altering day-to-day interactions. Researchers have expressed alarm that these disruptions may have instigated or exacerbated a downward trajectory in adolescents’ social integration.
The Finnish study is notable for its rigorous design, featuring large cohort samples of secondary school students surveyed across multiple years before, during, and after the peak pandemic period. By analyzing data from 2017 to 2023, the investigators were able to identify temporal trends and isolate potential lasting impacts attributable to the pandemic. This timeframe is particularly valuable in understanding whether declines observed during the acute health crisis represent transient perturbations or signify deeper, entrenched social disengagement among youth.
Methodologically, the study employed validated psychometric tools to assess facets of social connectedness, including perceived peer support, frequency of social interactions, and feelings of loneliness or isolation. The longitudinal approach allowed for cohort-to-cohort comparisons, revealing not only cross-sectional snapshots but trajectories reflecting ongoing change. Advanced statistical modeling accounted for potential confounders such as socio-demographic variables and school-level factors, ensuring robustness in the reported associations.
Key findings from the study indicate that the decline in social connectedness among Finnish secondary school students, sharply evident during the height of Covid-19 restrictions, did not fully reverse in the subsequent years. Although some improvement was observed as in-person schooling resumed and public health measures relaxed, the overall level of social integration remained notably lower in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic baselines. This suggests that the pandemic’s social impact on adolescents extends beyond immediate lockdown effects, potentially signaling a slower recovery curve or new norms in social behavior.
Several hypotheses are advanced to explain the persistence of diminished social connectedness. The pandemic may have induced lasting changes in communication habits, with increased reliance on digital platforms supplanting face-to-face engagement. While online interactions provide convenience, they often lack the depth and emotional resonance crucial for adolescent social development. Additionally, heightened anxiety and mental health challenges stemming from pandemic-related stressors could inhibit students from fully re-engaging with peers.
The implications of continuing social connectedness decline for adolescent health are profound. Social isolation has been consistently linked to a host of negative outcomes, including increased risk of depression, anxiety, poorer academic performance, and even physical health problems. The study’s authors emphasize the need for targeted interventions within schools and communities designed to bolster peer networks, facilitate inclusive activities, and support mental health to counteract the lingering social fragmentation.
Interestingly, the Finnish educational context offers a unique lens through which these social trends unfold. Finland’s school system is renowned for its emphasis on holistic student well-being and community cohesion. Despite these strengths, the research illustrates that even resilient systems are vulnerable to sustained social disruptions on a generational scale. This underscores the universal relevance of the findings and their potential applicability to other national contexts grappling with similar challenges.
Public health policy will find important guidance in this study’s conclusions. The nuanced understanding that social connectedness recovery may be gradual rather than immediate highlights the need for sustained resource allocation toward youth social programming and mental health services. Policymakers are urged to integrate these considerations into pandemic recovery plans, recognizing that social well-being is an indispensable dimension of overall health.
From a theoretical perspective, the research contributes to evolving models of adolescent development by incorporating a pandemic-informed framework. It challenges assumptions about social resilience as a uniform, rapid rebound process, highlighting instead complex interactions between environmental constraints, psychological states, and technological mediation. This enriched understanding invites further inquiry into adaptive and maladaptive mechanisms influencing youth social re-engagement post-crisis.
The longitudinal nature of the study also points to important methodological lessons for future research. Monitoring social connectedness over extended periods allows researchers to capture patterns invisible in cross-sectional snapshots, including delayed or accumulative effects of major societal disruptions. Such approaches are critical in building evidence bases that can inform proactive, instead of reactive, strategies for youth well-being.
Ultimately, the work by Read and colleagues serves as a clarion call to educators, health professionals, and communities to prioritize rebuilding and nurturing social bonds among adolescents in a post-pandemic world. It illuminates the nuanced reality that healing social fractures takes sustained effort and time, but also provides hope by identifying trends and factors that can be leveraged to foster reconnection.
In conclusion, the study on social connectedness trends in Finnish secondary school students from 2017 to 2023 delivers an unprecedented window into the social aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its detailed, empirically grounded insights reveal that while some recovery is underway, significant social disconnection persists, necessitating targeted, informed interventions. As the world continues to navigate the pandemic’s ripple effects, this research offers both a cautionary tale and a roadmap for supporting adolescent social health into the next decade.
Subject of Research: Social connectedness and its trends among secondary school students in Finland before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Article Title: Is social connectedness still in decline after the Covid-19 pandemic? Cohort trends in secondary school students in Finland between 2017 and 2023.
Article References:
Read, S., Kiuru, N., Helenius, J. et al. Is social connectedness still in decline after the Covid-19 pandemic? Cohort trends in secondary school students in Finland between 2017 and 2023. BMC Psychol 13, 1071 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03394-5
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