Anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms among high school students in china in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown

Abstract

Aims This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms, and associated risk factors among a large-scale sample of adolescents from China after the pandemic and lockdown. Method A total of 57,948 high school students took part in an online survey from July 13 to 29, 2020. The mental health outcomes included anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms. Risk factors included negative family relationships, COVID-19 related exposure, and a lack of social support. Results The prevalence of anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms was 7.1%, 12.8%, and 16.9%, respectively. COVID-19 related exposure significantly linked to the mental health outcomes (all p < .001). The most important predictors for the mental health outcomes were family relationship and social support (all p < .001). Conclusion The pandemic may have long-term adverse mental health consequences among adolescents. Adverse family relationships and lack of social support could be the major risk factors for the post-pandemic mental health outcomes of adolescents.

‘It’s Easily the Lowest I’ve Ever, Ever Got to’: A Qualitative Study of Young Adults’ Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Lockdowns in the UK

“…This is nearly twice the pre-pandemic depression levels (10%) [15]. Anxiety and depression prevalence among young (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) UK adults during the lockdowns have been abnormally high; in 2021, young adults (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) were nearly five times more likely to suffer from depression compared to other age groups [15,16]. Locating the study in the UK is relevant beyond the scope of the lockdowns, moreover, as anxiety and depression levels have been on the rise for young people (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) in the UK since 2017, especially for young women [17].…”

“…Existing research examines the impact of the pandemic on young people's mental health, but the studies are largely quantitative [23][24][25]. Literature highlights the role of social isolation, and lack of social support, as key risk factors for mental disorders during the lockdowns [26,27].…”

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A review of exposure characteristics, PTSD rates, and the assessment of diagnostic criteria in six COVID-19 studies that assessed PTSD in general child populations 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 evidenced the concerns raised in the adult literature. 1 Only two papers provided much detail on participants’ COVID-19 experiences or exposure, 5 , 6 and none clearly limited the diagnosis of PTSD to participants who met the exposure criterion.…”

“… 6 Two other studies used scales to assess children’s pandemic experiences but provided minimal information on the items queried 8 or the results. 3 , 8 Reported rates of “probable PTSD” were 35.4% in a sample of adolescents in a “severely affected” area of China 8 and 16.9% in a sample of students in a Chinese community after strict lockdown measures had been lifted. 3 Two studies, which noted widespread public health restrictions but failed to describe participants’ COVID-19 exposures, found that 20.7% of children from regions across China scored above the study’s cutoff for PTSD 4 and “high risk” for PTSD in 3.16% of a sample of Chinese school children in an area that was not severely affected by the disease.…”

Reports on myocarditis caused by current mRNA vaccines suggest proactivity in identifying cases is needed

“…What could also be a factor in underreporting is that common symptoms that are used to identify myocarditis are also common in anxiety disorders. Panic attack symptoms include: palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath or smothering, feelings of choking, chest pain or discomfort, feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headedness, or faint, chills or heat sensations, paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations), derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself), fear of losing control or "going crazy", and fear of dying [13] [14].…”