Shifts in patterns of help-seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Hong Kong's younger generation

RATIONALE: Help-seeking can convert an individual's bonding social capital into social support, which has been shown to buffer the impact of psychological distress. The younger generation (individuals aged 15–35 years) have been the least likely to actively seek help despite facing a rising burden of mental health problems. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions may have altered their help-seeking behaviors, but the extent of such shift remains little understood, particularly in Asian contexts. OBJECTIVE: To understand how the younger generation's patterns of help-seeking (activation of different combinations of support sources) have shifted in pandemic times, who have experienced the shift, and what explanatory factors are involved. METHODS: Data were obtained from two waves (2019, 2020) of online survey responses by 438 community-dwelling younger generation people in Hong Kong, recruited through the authors' affiliated institutions and territory-wide community outreach organizations. Latent class analysis was conducted on participants' self-reported help-seeking behaviors in each survey wave. Constituents' characteristics in each latent class were examined, and between-wave changes in individuals’ class membership were identified. Logistic regressions identified explanatory factors that significantly explained the changes. RESULTS: Three consistent patterns of help-seeking were identified in both survey waves. A major shift was observed for individuals with poorer mental health histories who faced moderate distress. They relied on their family, friends, and partner pre-pandemic, but no longer activated these supports during the pandemic. Posting status updates on social media, along with various communication habits and sociodemographic factors that differed by age group, were associated with this shift. CONCLUSIONS: Shifts in the younger generation's patterns of help-seeking may be an early warning signal to invest additional resources in facilitating help-seeking among the younger generation. Findings also serve as a reminder that public health restrictions may have inadvertent mental health implications that should be considered in future scenarios.