Evaluations after the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany showed an increase in mental health problems and a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the study was to assess those aspects after the third wave of COVID-19 in adolescents who decided to receive a vaccination. In students aged 12–17 years recruited from schools in one German region, mental health (by the strengths and difficulties questionnaire, SDQ) and HRQoL (by KIDSCREEN-10) were assessed by both a self- and parental report. Data from 1412 adolescents (mean age 14.3 years, SD = 1.64) and 908 parents were collected. The mean self-reported HRQoL was T = 53.7 (SD = 11.2), significantly higher in boys than in girls and higher in younger (12–14 years) than in older (15–17 years) adolescents. In total, 18.7% of adolescents reported clinically relevant psychological symptoms, especially peer problems (23.5%), emotional problems (17.4%), and hyperactivity (17.1%). Comparing the present data to evaluations after the first and second waves of COVID-19, adolescents rated a higher HRQoL and reported less mental health problems after the third wave. After 1.5 years of living with the pandemic, adolescents have adapted to the changes in everyday life. Further, the relaxation of restrictions, better school organization, and the prospect of the vaccination may have increased optimism, wellbeing, and contentment, leading to declining but still alarming rates of psychological symptoms.
Studies in recent years and especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown a significant increase in the problematic use of computer games and social media. Adolescents having difficulties in regulating their unpleasant emotions are especially prone to Problematic Internet Use (PIU), which is why emotion dysregulation has been considered a risk factor for PIU. The aim of the present study was to assess problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents after the third wave (nearly 1.5 years after the onset in Europe) of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the German region of Siegen-Wittgenstein, all students 12 years and older from secondary-level schools, vocational schools and universities were offered a prioritized vaccination in August 2021 with an approved vaccine against COVID-19. In this context, the participants filled out the Short Compulsive Internet Use Scale (SCIUS) and two additional items to capture a possible change in digital media usage time and regulation of negative affect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of PIU. The original sample consisted of 1477 participants, and after excluding invalid cases the final sample size amounted to 1268 adolescents aged 12–17 (x = 14.37 years, SD = 1.64). The average prevalence of PIU was 43.69%. Gender, age, digital media usage time and the intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were all found to be significant predictors of PIU: female gender, increasing age, longer digital media usage time and higher intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher SCIUS total scores. This study found a very high prevalence of PIU among 12- to 17-year-olds for the period after the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic prevalence rates. PIU is emerging as a serious problem among young people in the pandemic. Besides gender and age, pandemic-associated time of digital media use and emotion regulation have an impact on PIU, which provides starting points for preventive interventions.
Background: From March – June 2021, the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in Germany. First and second wave evaluations showed an increase in mental health problems and a reduction of quality of life in adolescents. In August 2021, two vaccines against COVID-19 were approved for adolescents aged 12-17 years in Germany. Aim of the study was to assess mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after 1.5 years of COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents who decided to receive a vaccination. Methods: In the German region of Siegen-Wittgenstein, all students from 12-17 years from secondary level schools, vocational schools and universities were offered a prioritized vaccination against COVID-19. Mental health and HRQoL were assessed at the first vaccination appointment by self- and parental report. Adolescents and their parents completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the KIDSCREEN-10. Results: Data from 1412 adolescents (49.2% female, 47.7% male; mean age 14.3 years, SD=1.64) and 908 parents were collected. Mean self-reported HRQoL was T=53.7 (SD=11.2), in boys significantly higher than in girls (56.0 vs. 51.3), and significantly higher in younger (12-14 years) than in older (15-17 years) adolescents (56.2 vs. 51.5). Parental-reported HRQoL was T=51.8 (SD=12.8). In total, 18.5% of adolescents reported clinically relevant psychological symptoms, especially peer problems (23.7%), emotional problems (16.7%) and hyperactivity (17.2%). Girls reported significantly higher scores on emotional, peer and total problems than boys, whereas younger adolescents reported more hyperactivity and less emotional and peer problems than older ones. Comparing the present data to evaluations after the first and second wave of COVID-19 in Germany, adolescents facing vaccination after the third wave rated a higher HRQoL and reported less mental health problems. The data from the present study are comparable to those from pre-COVID evaluations. Conclusion: After 1.5 years of living with the pandemic, adolescents may have adapted to the changes in everyday life which has lowered the anticipated stress. Further, the relaxation of restrictions, better school organization and the prospect of the vaccination may have increased optimism, wellbeing and contentment, leading to declining but still alarming rates of psychological symptoms.
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