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The concept of the "pandemic skip" describes a mental health phenomenon where individuals feel as though their personal development was paused or halted due to the pandemic's disruptive impact on their lives.

Casey Corradin, a co-host of the podcast "Between Us Girlies," highlighted this phenomenon in a viral TikTok video, suggesting that individuals feel stuck at the mental and emotional age they were when the pandemic began. For instance, someone who was 27 at the start of the pandemic may feel like they have lost developmental progress by the time they reach 30, especially when societal expectations, like starting a family, coincide with their perceived developmental stage.

This can be related to a study, where researchers found a shift in personality traits among younger adults following pandemic lockdowns. It highlighted a decrease in positive traits associated with psychological maturity, such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, while noting an increase in neuroticism since 2020. This indicated a notable alteration in the trajectory of personality development due to the pandemic's disruptions.

What experts think about the pandemic skip

Los Angeles Outpatient Center executive director and nurse Dominique Hamler and NYU Langone psychologist Yamalis Diaz talked about the mental regression it caused and the implications.

Hamler emphasized the concept's broader implications, discussing the loss of time and experiences during the pandemic. Hamler sees this "skip" as a form of mental regression, causing individuals to feel as though they are still processing the effects of the pandemic years later.

Diaz explained that the pandemic skip represents a significant disruption in personal development, particularly affecting young adults in critical developmental stages. Education, career decisions, relationships, and financial independence were interrupted, potentially delaying these important life milestones.

Similarly, psychologist Nova Cobban highlighted its impact, emphasizing the sense of missed growth and experiences during the pandemic. She mentioned a disconnection between one's perceived life stage and reality due to the interruption of major life events. Cobban discussed how this pause can lead to anxiety about missed experiences and a desire to reset the clock, hindering personal growth and maturity.

Chief psychologist at Wysa Smriti Joshi then recommended connecting with others who share similar pandemic experiences to provide validation, foster a sense of community, and promote resilience through adaptive coping strategies.