ABSTRACT
There have been significant concerns regarding the mental health impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to isolation, anxiety around the pandemic, and increased conflict in the home. The purpose of this study was to examine the rates of mental health symptoms of clinical concern and substance use, and to assess which COVID-19 related stressors were predictors of these symptoms and substance use in a large Canadian sample of adolescents, with comparisons across genders. Participants (N = 809, Mage = 15.67, SD = 1.37) identified as a girl (56.2%), boy (38.7%), or trans/nonbinary individuals (TNBI;5.1%) and were recruited via social media to complete an online survey. A high proportion of adolescents reported symptoms of clinical concern for depression (51%), anxiety (39%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (45%). Other mental health problems ranged from 9% to 20%. Adolescents were mainly concerned with the health of family members and vulnerable populations, as well as the increased family stress at home during COVID-19. Rates of substance use were higher than expected, with over 50% of youth engaging in some form of substance use in the past 90 days, and almost 20% engaging in substance use at least once a week. TNBI and girls reported higher rates of mental health problems compared to boys. Family stress due to confinement and violence at home predicted higher mental health symptoms, but not substance use problems. Increased rates of mental health problems and substance use necessitate targeted supports that encourage positive coping amidst the additional stresses of COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
There have been significant concerns regarding the mental health impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to isolation, anxiety around the pandemic, and increased conflict in the home. The purpose of this study was to examine the rates of mental health symptoms of clinical concern and substance use, and to assess which COVID-19 related stressors were predictors of these symptoms and substance use in a large Canadian sample of adolescents, with comparisons across genders. Participants (N = 809, Mage = 15.67, SD = 1.37) identified as a girl (56.2%), boy (38.7%), or trans/nonbinary individuals (TNBI;5.1%) and were recruited via social media to complete an online survey. A high proportion of adolescents reported symptoms of clinical concern for depression (51%), anxiety (39%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (45%). Other mental health problems ranged from 9% to 20%. Adolescents were mainly concerned with the health of family members and vulnerable populations, as well as the increased family stress at home during COVID-19. Rates of substance use were higher than expected, with over 50% of youth engaging in some form of substance use in the past 90 days, and almost 20% engaging in substance use at least once a week. TNBI and girls reported higher rates of mental health problems compared to boys. Family stress due to confinement and violence at home predicted higher mental health symptoms, but not substance use problems. Increased rates of mental health problems and substance use necessitate targeted supports that encourage positive coping amidst the additional stresses of COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (French) D'importantes preoccupations ont ete soulevees au sujet des repercussions sur la sante mentale de la maladie causee par le coronavirus (COVID-19) en raison de l'isolement, de l'anxiete et de l'augmentation des conflits familiaux suscites par la pandemie. Cette etude a pour but d'examiner la presence de signes cliniques de maladie mentale et la consommation de substances, et de determiner les stresseurs lies a la pandemie qui permettent de predirent ces symptomes et l'usage de substances dans un vaste echantillon d'adolescents canadiens et selon les genres. Les participants (N = 809, Mage = 15,67, E.-T. = 1,37), qui se sont definis en tant que filles (56,2 %), garcons (38,7 %), personnes trans ou non binaires (TNB;5,1 %), ont ete recrutes au moyen des medias sociaux pour repondre a un questionnaire en ligne. Une proportion elevee d'adolescents a rapporte des signes cliniques de depression (51 %), d'anxiete (39 %) et de trouble de stress post-traumatique (45 %). Les taux d'autres problemes de maladie mentale allaient de 9 a 20 %. Les adolescents se souciaient surtout de la sante des membres de leur famille et des populations vulnerables, ainsi que du niveau plus eleve de stress de la famille durant la pandemie. Les taux d'usage de substances etaient plus eleves que prevu : plus de 50 % des jeunes rapportaient avoir consomme au cours des 90 derniers jours, et pres de 20 % consommaient au moins une fois par semaine. Les jeunes TNB et les filles rapportaient des taux plus eleves de troubles de sante mentale que les garcons. Le stress au sein de la famille cause par le confinement ainsi que la violence domestique etaient des facteurs associes a une plus grande incidence de symptome de maladie mentale, mais pas aux problemes de consommation de substances. Les taux plus eleves de problemes de sante mentale et de consommation de substances necessitent un soutien cible qui encourage le recours a des mecanismes positifs d'adaptation au stress supplementaire cause par la pandemie de COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put unprecedented stress on Canadian adolescence and their families. This paper found higher than expected clinically concerning number of symptoms of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use in Canadian adolescents. Results also suggest that therapies focused on improving family functioning may help alleviate mental health problems in adolescents during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)