Health-Related Quality of Life in Italian Adolescents During Covid-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak represented an experience of social isolation potentially leading to changes in the health quality of life. The aim of this study is to investigate the health-related quality of life during quarantine in early adolescents. Data were collected from 1,289 adolescents (mean age, 12.5; male, 622), at the beginning of the school year (September 2019, Standard Condition, SC) as part of the AVATAR project and during Phase 1 of the Italian lockdown (mid-late April 2020) (COVID-19 Quarantine, CQ) using an online questionnaire. In the CQ period, with respect to SC, adolescents showed lower perception in the dimensions, such as psychological (p = 0.001), physical well-being (p = 0.001), mood/emotion (p = 0.008), autonomy (p = 0.001), and financial resources (p = 0.018). Relationship with the family (p = 0.021) and peers (p = 0.001), as well as the perception of bullying (p = 0.001) were reduced. In lifestyle, adolescents developed higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p = 0.001). Adolescents living in the village had greater reduction in both autonomy (p = 0.002) and peer relationships (p = 0.002). Moreover, the perception of physical well-being was lower in those living in the city instead of those living in the countryside (p = 0.03), in an apartment instead of a detached house (p = 0.002), and in those who did not have green space (p = 0.001). Gender effect emerged for the psychological (p = 0.007) and physical well-being (p = 0.001), mood/emotion (p = 0.001), and self-perception (p = 0.001). The study showed that health-related quality of life during quarantine changed in its psychosocial dimensions, from mood and self-esteem to social relationships, helping to define the educational policies at multiple points in the promotion process of health.

Changes in Youth Mental Health, Psychological Wellbeing, and Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review

“…Nine of 11 cross-sectional studies also indicated lower levels of wellbeing or life satisfaction, while two indicated no significant changes. Greater decreases in wellbeing or life satisfaction among girls as compared with boys were reported in three studies (Magson et al, 2021 ; Mastorci et al, 2021 ; Thorisdottir et al, 2021 ). In a qualitative study, young people in the UK attributed their feelings of frustration, anger, and disappointment to the constant change, uncertainly, and lack of control associated with the pandemic context (Scott et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Of the 20 longitudinal studies, increased depressive symptoms during the pandemic were reported in 16 (Bignardi et al, 2020 ; Breaux et al, 2021 ; Buckner et al, 2021 ; Chen et al, 2021a , b ; Elmer et al, 2020 ; Evans et al, 2021 ; Giuntella et al, 2021 ; Hawes et al, 2021a , b ; Huckins et al, 2020 ; Hussong et al, 2021 ; Li et al, 2021a , b ; Magson et al, 2021 ; Yang et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2020 ), no significant change in two (Janssen et al, 2020 ; Teng et al, 2021 ), and a reduction of depressive symptoms in two (Li et al, 2020 ; Xiang et al, 2020 ). Greater increases in mood disorder symptoms were reported among girls and young women as compared to their male counterparts in five studies (Elmer et al, 2020 ; Hawes et al, 2021a ; Magson et al, 2021 ; Mastorci et al, 2021 ; Thorisdottir et al, 2021 ). In contrast, in a study in Bangladesh, parents reported more emotional problems among girls than among boys before the pandemic, but prevalence reached near parity 3 months after the imposition of physical distancing measures in March 2020 (Mallik & Radwan, 2021 ).…”

“…Of seven longitudinal studies of youth wellbeing or life satisfaction, six indicated a statistically significant worsening during the pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic period (Ehrler et al, 2021 ; Evans et al, 2021 ; Gray et al, 2020 ; Magson et al, 2021 ; Mastorci et al, 2021 ; Savage et al, 2020 ). Nine of 11 cross-sectional studies also indicated lower levels of wellbeing or life satisfaction, while two indicated no significant changes.…”

“…Among adolescents, the importance of peer relationships and peer support was also highlighted (Rogers et al, 2021 ), particularly for adolescent girls (Elmer et al, 2020 ; Magson et al, 2021 ; Thorisdottir et al, 2021 ). In several settings, girls and young women reported greater negative psychological impacts of the pandemic than did boys and young men (Elmer et al, 2020 ; Hawes et al, 2021a ; Magson et al, 2021 ; Mastorci et al, 2021 ; Thorisdottir et al, 2021 ), and the disruption of social networks due to school closures and physical distancing measures was cited as a factor. Adolescent girls may also have been exposed to more pandemic-related stressors (Hawes et al, 2021a ), such as being tasked with taking care of younger siblings.…”

The effects of living and learning conditions on the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown in the French Grand Est region

“…On the other hand, regarding psychological well-being, the difference may be because girls are more worried about disease and may be more emotional, as previously reported in student studies [ 30 ] and have less ability to cope. Some previous findings have indicated that a sex effect emerged for physical and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 31 ], whereas others did not find strong evidence [ 11 ]. Therefore, more studies should explore sex differences in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HRQoL.…”