Depression and Anxiety Plus Levels of Stress among Secondary School Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: an Online CrossSectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To assess prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress among adolescents experiencing lockdown during the 2019 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in both Asian and Western countries. Material and Methods: From May-June 2020, secondary school students were enrolled in an online cross-sectional survey, through social media; including, but not limited to, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp and LINE. We assessed the presence and severity of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10) within the last month, and assessed significant associations with demographics, degree of social distancing, and other associated issues using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: From 392 respondents (56.4% male, 43.1% female), from Thailand (59.2%), the United Kingdom (26.5%) and other countries (14.3%), we identified depressive symptoms in 58.7%, anxiety in 40.3% and high levels of stress in 9.7%. By multivariate analysis, we found significant associations between being female and depression and anxiety, being in late secondary school years and depression, and changes in patterns of substance use and anxiety and stress. Participants not located in Thailand had increased risk of depression.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated depression, anxiety and stress in six, four and one out of ten adolescents, respectively, who were experiencing lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We found female gender, older school years, and changes in substance use patterns to be significantly associated with these mental health conditions.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Among High School Students in Medina, Saudi Arabia

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Training of psychiatry and mental health in a low‐ and middle‐income country: Experience from Thailand before and after COVID‐19 outbreak

“…The cause of COVID‐19 is from severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) resulting in 2.7 million deaths within just about 12 months after the pandemic (Worldometer, 2021). The main measure that has been used to control spreading of the virus is social or physical distancing (Chu et al, 2020), which—accompanying with other related factors—impacts mental health, economic and societal costs, as well as education of students and general population around the world (Chiesa, Antony, Wismar, & Rechel, 2021; Luo, Zhong, & Chiu, 2021; Pungpapong & Kalayasiri, 2021).…”