The mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents: Risk and protective factors.

Abstract

Objective: The restrictions to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have led to considerable social isolation, posing significant threats to mental health worldwide. The preventive lockdowns may be especially difficult for children and adolescents, who rely extensively on their daily routines and peer connections for stability and optimal development. However, there is a dearth of longitudinal research examining the mental health and daily life impact of the pandemic among children and adolescents. This study addresses this gap by examining the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents' mental health and well-being, and potential risk and protective moderators of mental health change. Method: In the present study, 1,537 Israeli children and adolescents (M age = 13.97; 52% girls) completed a battery of questionnaires in September 2019; before the COVID-19 outbreak and immediately after an 8-week lockdown period when schools reopened in May 2020. Results: A repeated measures multivariant analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed significantly greater anxiety, depression, and panic symptoms, increases in video game, Internet and TV screen time use, and decreases in positive emotions, life satisfaction, social media use, and peer support during the pandemic. Participants with higher baseline mental health symptoms showed greater symptoms after the lockdown period. Perceived social support and consistent daily routines were found to act as significant protective factors against symptomatology. Conclusions: The results highlight the significant mental health consequences of the pandemic on children and adolescents, and substantiate the significant parents' and peers' roles in children's and adolescents' coping during this global pandemic. Clinical Impact StatementThe study highlights the significant mental health burden during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on children and adolescents, in terms of greater anxiety, depression, and panic symptoms, increases in screen time use, and decreases in subjective well-being and peer support. In addition, the study demonstrates that peer and family support and regularity of daily routines during the pandemic lockdown period moderated the effects of the pandemic on changes in mental health. The study emphasizes the need to provide resilience-promoting interventions to children during the pandemic, and underscore the importance of creating supportive and organized home and school environments that support mental health.

Risk Behaviors, Family Support, and Emotional Health among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel

“…The pandemic and the confinement measures have had their effect on youngsters; a study conducted by Shoshani and Kor (2021) revealed a significant increase in psychological distress and mental health symptoms among school-aged children compared to the pre-pandemic baseline. However, to our best knowledge, no study has yet to examine the effect of the pandemic on risk behaviors of adolescents in Israel [ 8 ].…”

Adolescer in Time of COVID-19′s Pandemic: Rationale and Construction Process of a Digital Intervention to Promote Adolescents’ Positive Development

“…Reduced family routines, specifically bedtime and screen time routines, during COVID-19 may negatively affect adolescents’ health behaviors [ 40 ]. This reduction impacts adolescents’ daily functioning in terms of more sleepiness, problems related to falling asleep and waking up, and more fatigue [ 35 , 36 ], contributing to attention problems, lower academic productivity/achievement, behavioral and emotional problems, [ 41 ] and decreases in subjective well-being [ 42 ]. Although family routines were difficult to maintain in the context of the pandemic, they were associated with better individual and family well-being during this period of acute health, economic, and social stress [ 40 ].…”

Reconsidering the role of place in health and welfare services: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and Canada

“…Findings on the impacts of containment measures in terms of everyday hassles, physical and mental health crises, escalating violence, and diminished social support affirm prior scholarship questioning assumptions that homes are a one-dimensional source of safety, comfort, and ease (Mallett 2004 ). Yet scholars have also pointed to the protective effects of being anchored to home during the pandemic (Ahrens et al 2021 ; Shoshani and Kor 2021 ). Even (or especially) amid a global crisis, homes still offer peace, comfort, recreation, learning, social support, communication, and positive identity formation (Ahrens et al 2021 ; Panchal et al 2021 ; Shoshani and Kor 2021 ).…”

“…Yet scholars have also pointed to the protective effects of being anchored to home during the pandemic (Ahrens et al 2021 ; Shoshani and Kor 2021 ). Even (or especially) amid a global crisis, homes still offer peace, comfort, recreation, learning, social support, communication, and positive identity formation (Ahrens et al 2021 ; Panchal et al 2021 ; Shoshani and Kor 2021 ). The pandemic has thus not entirely shifted our understandings of home.…”