ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to test whether resilience and life satisfaction (two traditional protective factors) mediate between COVID-19 related worries and the development of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in adolescents and young adults. Participants involved 392 adolescents and young adults (70.20% female) aged between 12 and 25 years (M = 17.05 years, SD = 3.08). Participants completed the COVID-19 related worries scale, the CD-RISC to analyse resilience, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21 to study emotional symptoms. Descriptive analyses and Pearson correlations were conducted, together with a structural equation modeling testing a mediational model and multigroup invariance. Results show that resilience and life satisfaction play a mediating role in the relation between the COVID-19 related worries and emotional symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress). This study highlights the role of protective factors on adolescents' and young adults' emotional symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
The ongoing pandemic has dramatically disrupted daily life, increasing the risk of developing psychiatric disorders and poor mental wellbeing. The compound effects of social, political and psychological stressors have increased psychological symptoms among adolescents and young people, with worries about COVID-19 playing a central role in the clinical course of their mental health problems caused by the pandemic. The aim of this cross-cultural study was to examine the social psychological effects of COVID-19 on adolescents' and young people's mental health and wellbeing in Ibero-American population. Participants involved 6,283 adolescents and young adults from five different Spanish-Speaking countries (83.7% female) aged between 12 and 30 years (M = 18.79; SD = 3.48). Participants completed the Worries about COVID-19 and its Consequences Scale (W-COV), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Descriptive analyses, multivariate ANOVAs and Pearson correlations were performed, as well as Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) testing a mediational model. The results indicate cross-cultural difference in COVID-19 related worries, emotional symptoms and life satisfaction. Results from SEM confirmed the overall indirect effects of COVID-19 cases, political response and participants' conditions during lockdown on depression, anxiety, stress and life satisfaction mediated by COVID-19 related worries. These findings suggest that the social psychological factors underlying psychological symptoms could be partly explained by increased worries about COVID-19 and its personal, social, economic and political consequences, which may offer guidance to policy makers and health services for safeguarding youth mental well-being.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyse the current health status, in comparison with the health status prior to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, in a sample of adolescents from Spain, Mexico and Chile. The results show that, in general, adolescents in Chile tend to present a significantly higher incidence of physical and psychological symptoms during the pandemic, compared to their health status prior to the appearance of the coronavirus. Keywords: COVID-19;physical symptoms;psychological symptoms;mental health;teenager. Cada país estableció sus propias directrices de seguridad sanitaria, sin embargo, la mayoría de gobiernos actuaron en torno a las mismas fechas, conforme nuevos casos se iban confirmando en sus territorios (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020b).
ABSTRACT
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents is one of the most prevalent concerns all over the world. Adolescence is a developmental stage of high vulnerability due to the challenges this period entails. Additionally, the health emergency crisis has put adolescents even more at risk of developing mental health problems. The present study aims to examine the influence of socio-demographic and COVID-19 related variables on symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in adolescents during pandemic-related confinement in Spain. Participants were 523 adolescents (63.1% female), aged between 13 and 17 years (M=14.89 years;SD=1.13 years), who completed an ad hoc questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and The Oviedo Infrequency Scale (INFO-OV). A descriptive and cross-sectional study design was used, and descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results indicate that socio-demographic and COVID- 19 related variables play a significant role in the development of emotional symptomatology in adolescents during the current pandemic. Girls more than boys, adolescents who did volunteer work and those who stayed home more often were more likely to experience depression, anxiety or stress symptoms. Experiencing a stressing life event and searching for COVID-19 related information more often was related to psychological distress. On the other hand, adolescents who were in a romantic relationship and had been infected with the coronavirus, were more likely to be mentally healthy. Further research is necessary in order to detect risk and protective variables that impact adolescent's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Spanish) El impacto psicologico de la pandemia de COVID-19 en ninos y adolescentes es una de las preocupaciones mas frecuentes en todo el mundo. La adolescencia es una etapa de desarrollo de alta vulnerabilidad debido a los desafios que conlleva este periodo. Ademas, la crisis de emergencia sanitaria ha puesto a los adolescentes en un riesgo aun mayor de desarrollar problemas de salud mental. El objetivo del presente estudio es examinar la influencia de las variables sociodemograficas y las relacionadas con COVID-19 en los sintomas de depresion, ansiedad y estres en los adolescentes durante el confinamiento a causa de la pandemia en Espana. Los participantes fueron 523 adolescentes (63,1% mujeres), con edades comprendidas entre los 13 y los 17 anos (M=14.89 anos;SD=1.13 anos), que cumplimentaron un cuestionario ad hoc, la Escala de Depresion, Ansiedad y Estres (DASS-21) y la Escala de Infrecuencia de Oviedo (INFO-OV). Se utilizo un diseno descriptivo y transversal, y se realizaron estadisticos descriptivos y analisis de regresion logistica multiple. Los resultados indican que las variables sociodemograficas y las relacionadas con la COVID-19 desempenan un papel importante en el desarrollo de la sintomatologia emocional en los adolescentes durante la pandemia. Las chicas, los adolescentes que hicieron trabajo voluntario y los que se quedaron en casa con mas frecuencia tuvieron mas probabilidades de experimentar sintomas de depresion, ansiedad o estres. Se necesitan mas investigaciones para detectar las variables de riesgo y de proteccion que afectan a la salud mental de los adolescentes durante la pandemia de COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: adolescence is a time of change and it generally entails a greater family vulnerability thus; the aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for poor emotional adjustment to COVID among parents of adolescents. DESIGN AND METHODS: 94 parents of adolescents (11-18 years old, M = 13.90, SD = 1.85) participated at different times during the state of alert in Spain. 91.5% were mothers. Their ages ranged from 35 to 63 years (M = 46.54; SD = 5.09). The variables assessed were anxiety, depression and stress (DASS), moods (MOOD), somatization (SCL) and resilience (CD-RISC). Descriptive analyses, t-tests, ANOVAs, correlations, and hierarchical regressions were performed. All this by means of a cross-sectional and longitudinal study design. RESULTS: at the beginning of the confinement parents showed low levels of emotional distress and moderate levels of positive emotionality and resilience. However, those with a prior psychological problem, who had lost their job, or had lost someone to the pandemic, showed worse emotional adjustment. Resilience was relevant in predicting anxiety-depressive symptoms, and a low level of happiness was relevant in predicting stress. Emotional symptoms improved over time, and resilience remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: the emotional impact of COVID over time is influenced by mood, mental health, and resilience. In addition, parents who had a previous health problem, had lost their job or a loved one, had a worse adjustment. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: it is important to carry out intervention programs that increase resilience, treating parents who require it, since their emotional adjustment has repercussions on the emotional adjustment of family system.