ABSTRACT
Analyzing COVID-19-related stress in children with affective dysregulation (AD) seems especially interesting, as these children typically show heightened reactivity to potential stressors and an increased use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Children in out-of-home care often show similar characteristics to those with AD. Since COVID-19 has led to interruptions in psychotherapy for children with mental health problems and to potentially reduced resources to implement treatment strategies in daily life in families or in out-of-home care, these children might show a particularly strong increase in stress levels. In this study, 512 families of children without AD and 269 families of children with AD reported on COVID-19-related stress. The sample comprised screened community, clinical, and out-of-home care samples. Sociodemographic factors, characteristics of child and caregiver before the pandemic, and perceived change in external conditions due to the pandemic were examined as potential risk or protective factors. Interestingly, only small differences emerged between families of children with and without AD or between subsamples: families of children with AD and families in out-of-home care were affected slightly more, but in few domains. Improvements and deteriorations in treatment-related effects balanced each other out. Overall, the most stable and strongest risk factor for COVID-19-related stress was perceived negative change in external conditions-particularly family conditions and leisure options. Additionally, caregiver characteristics emerged as risk factors across most models. Actions to support families during the pandemic should, therefore, facilitate external conditions and focus on caregiver characteristic to reduce familial COVID-19-related stress. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), ADOPT Online: DRKS00014963 registered 27 June 2018, ADOPT Treatment: DRKS00013317 registered 27 September 2018, ADOPT Institution: DRKS00014581 registered 04 July 2018.
ABSTRACT
Background: In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased behavioral problems in preschoolers. Objective: The present study aims to investigate the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on preschoolers' mental health and to identify potential moderators. Method: In two independent surveys in March and November 2021, we assessed 331 preschoolers' behavioral problems reported by their parents in Rhineland-Palatinate. To quantify the impact of the pandemic on preschoolers' mental health, we compared the data with a prepandemic, population-based sample. Moreover, we used logistic regression analyses to identify modulating factors. Results: Behavioral problems increased during the pandemic. Findings were robust when sociodemographic differences were taken into account. Additionally, we identified preschoolers' emotion regulation skills as well as parents' emotional competencies and their level of mental health problems as moderating factors. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for prevention programs focusing on the promotion of socioemotional competencies of preschoolers and their parents. © 2023 The Author(s).
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Adolescents have to cope with several challenges and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of those incongruent with the typical developmental tasks of adolescent age. Some adolescents might be particularly vulnerable in this situation, including those who are deprived of psychological, social or health care services and/or are exposed to abuse or neglect in their home environment. The aims of the current international multicentre follow-up study are to: 1. collect data on the mental health and quality of life of adolescents during and after the pandemic;2. improve their mental health by providing an online prevention program that addresses their actual needs;3. accelerate the development of culturally adapted prevention programs by involving an international team, and 4. to contribute to adequate preparation for any potentially occurring, similar situation in the future. Methods: Participants aged 11-18 years and their parents/caregivers from different parts of Europe and non-European countries are recruited online. Data are collected regularly in a follow-up study by means of structured self-administered online questionnaires on adolescents’ mental health, quality of life and current attitudes and needs. The baseline data collection was in March 2020 at first restrictions of the COVID pandemic in Europe. It is followed up several times (at the beginning weekly, later monthly, bi-monthly, three-monthly) to study changes in mental health, quality of life and attitudes of children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease pandemic. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaires (see below). The time frame of the study is set to one year from study start, March 2021. The last data collection was done in December 2020. The prevention program is developed and provided based on continuously analysed incoming data. Conclusions: Prevention based on the results of the study is expected to contribute to maintaining adolescents’mental health, improve their quality of life, increase their and their environment’s cooperation with the necessary restrictions during the pandemic, and to make reintegration easier once the restrictions are over. Furthermore, the study has the potential to inform on the wellbeing of children and adolescents in extreme situations in general, thus contribute to future preventive measures and policymaking. Implications and Contribution: The proposed international online follow-up study is expected to provide scientific evidence for 1. possible changes in the mental health and quality of life of adolescents during and after a pandemic situation, 2. the effectiveness of a culturally adapted prevention program developed to address challenges associated with these changes.
ABSTRACT
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the life of children and adolescents since the start of 2020. The COPSY study Hamburg is one of the first population-based studies to examine the mental health and quality of life of children and adolescents in Hamburg during the pandemic. The COPSY study Hamburg is part of the nationwide COPSY study. Methods From June 12 to July 31 n = 1,037 children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 years and their parents were surveyed online on the impact of the pandemic on quality of life and mental health. Established instruments were used to assess life satisfaction (Cantril Ladder), quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10), mental health problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), psychosomatic complaints (HBSC Symptom Checklist) as well as other relevant instruments to assess COVID-19-related stress. Data were compared with representative reference samples from the pre-pandemic BELLA and HBSC studies. Relative frequencies including confidence intervals were reported. Based on bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses, children with particularly high levels of stress were identified. The risk group was presented, and potential resources were analysed. Results Two thirds of Hamburg's children and adolescents felt burdened by the pandemic. Their life satisfaction and quality of life have decreased compared to before the pandemic. The children and adolescents reported more frequent psychosomatic complaints such as irritability, problems falling asleep and headaches. Socially disadvantaged children were particularly burdened. Good family cohesion had a protective effect and was able to mitigate the burden caused by the pandemic. Conclusions To protect and maintain the mental health of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in future crisis situations, target group-specific and low-threshold prevention and health promotion strategies need to be discussed.