Figure 1: Self-reported difficulties increased substantially in the first national COVID-19 restriction period (March–May 2020) but returned to pre-COVID levels at the end of 2020

Line graph: percentage of young adults reporting difficulties

• Female
• before COVID (2018) - 22.7%
• during first restriction period (March–May 2020) - 33.3%
• after first restriction period (end 2020) 23.8%
• Male
• before COVID (2018) - 11.6%
• during first restriction period (March–May 2020) - 19.9%
• after first restriction period (end 2020) - 12.3%

Figure 2: Rates of loneliness and social isolation among young adult females were significantly higher in March–May 2020 (first national COVID-19 restriction period) compared to the end of 2020; less so for males

Bar chart: Percentage of young adults

Lacked companionship:

• March–May 2020
• Female - 30.4%
• Male - 17.5%
• End 2020
• Female - 19.1%
• Male - 15.8%

Left out:

• March–May 2020
• Female - 25.8%
• Male - 10.9%
• End 2020
• Female - 20.4%
• Male - 9.4%

isolated from others:

• March–May 2020
• Female - 44.0%
• Male - 27.4%
• End 2020
• Female - 23.8%
• Male - 15.9%

Lonely

• March–May 2020,
• Female - 38.5%
• Male - 23.1%
• End 2020
• Female - 30.0%
• Male - 16.6%

Quote:

There was a substantial increase in the rate of boomerang returns to living with parents at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Infographic

Infographic

• Those who moved to live with parents due to COVID-19 restrictions were two times more likely to be from Victoria.
• Those who moved to live with parents due to COVID-19 restrictions were more likely to be continuously out of work during the first restriction period.
• Government payments (e.g. JobKeeper) decreased the likelihood of moving home.

Figure 3: The majority of young adults who returned to live with parents had increased needs for financial and emotional support and advice

Stacked bar chart

• Financial support:
• didn't need in past year - 32%
• needed less in CRP - 10%
• no change in CRP - 22%
• needed more in CRP - 37%
• Emotional support:
• didn't need in past year - 17%
• needed less in CRP - 1%
• no change in CRP - 26%
• needed more in CRP - 57%
• Advice:
• didn't need in past year - 11%
• needed less in CRP - 2%
• no change in CRP - 35%
• needed more in CRP - 52%
• Technical support:
• didn't need in past year - 49%
• needed less in CRP - 0%
• no change in CRP - 35%
• needed more in CRP - 17%
• Practical support:
• didn't need in past year - 38%
• needed less in CRP - 2%
• no change in CRP - 33%
• needed more in CRP - 28%
• Other support:
• didn't need in past year - 64%
• needed less in CRP - 0%
• no change in CRP - 15%
• needed more in CRP - 22%