ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adolescents have been deeply exposed to negative consequences of social distancing imposed by Covid-19. There is a lack of longitudinal studies regarding the impact on adolescents of this unfavorable condition, and their results are controversial. The aim of the present prospective study is to assess psychopathological symptoms in adolescent students over time and to evaluate what type of impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on adolescents. Moreover, the association between mental health indexes, potential risk and resilience factors is explored. METHODS: Psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress, emotional dysregulation, maladaptive behaviours), and potential risk and resilience factors (i.e., childhood trauma, emotional regulation skills, family function, personality traits) were assessed among a sample of 153 students (72% female; mean age 16.1 ± 0.49), living in a medium-size city in the north of Italy, at two time points: before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic (November 2019-January 2020) and 1 year later (April-May 2021). RESULTS: After 1 year, we found an increase in mean scores on anxiety, stress for future uncertainty, and higher frequency of maladaptive behaviours. By contrast, the level of stress related to social domains (i.e., school attendance, romantic relationships, peer pressure) decreased. Dysfunctional emotional regulation skills, childhood trauma, low family functioning, and specific personality traits were associated to higher psychopathological symptoms. Cluster analysis detected three groups of youths based on their change over time in psychopathological symptoms: those who worsened (N = 23; 15%), improved (N = 55; 34%), or remained stable (N = 75; 46%). After controlling for baseline mental health status, those adolescents reporting increase in self-harm (OR = 2.61; p < 0.001), binge-drinking (OR = 3.0; p = 0.007), aggressiveness (OR 1.92; p = 0.004), and binge-eating (OR 2.55; p = 0.003) were more likely to present a worsened mental health condition. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have had a different impact on subgroups of students. Indeed, we found a global worsening of psychological well-being only in a subgroup of adolescents, otherwise other students remained stable or improved. Increased frequency of maladaptive behaviors was found as a predictor of worsened mental health, therefore interventions to strengthen emotional regulation strategies are warranted. Finally, the decrease of stress in social domains could be due to reduction of potential triggering situations, thus indicating only a temporary beneficial effect that requires careful monitoring.
ABSTRACT
Unhealed trauma causes distress in the body. When the nature of the distress overrides a person's existing system for coping, or the trauma is not processed, survivors may numb themselves or seek a more pleasurable experience to escape. Such behavior is a completely natural response to unprocessed trauma. This tendency we have as human beings to dissociate, or sever from the present moment when the moment becomes unpleasant or painful, is amplified for survivors when chemicals or other reinforcing behaviors are introduced. Such chemicals and behaviors can accelerate the potency of dissociation. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a complete system of psychotherapy that can facilitate this process. This innovative book offers an investigation into therapies which can assist therapists to assess trauma and how it impacts the mind-body. It provides a clear guide to therapists in changing the way healing addiction is imagined. The book continues to challenge the existing paradigms for treating addiction and related issues. Despite the longstanding existence of professional treatment in North America, recidivism is high. People are still dying at alarming rates, not just from the opioid crisis that dominates news headlines, but also from the impact of alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, and other maladaptive behaviors. Moreover, the social isolation and collective trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic added fuel to an already raging fire, revealing massive cracks in a system for care that is barely functional. In assessment, no single drug, substance, or behavior is the culprit the real issue is the untreated trauma that lurks underneath, causing people to seek out the relief of these substances in the first place. EMDR therapy is a complete psychotherapy that facilitates the shifts that are required in an individual to achieve meaningful lifestyle change. Recovery, healing, and wellness require lifestyle change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
We aimed to investigate OCD symptoms and responsibility beliefs in relation to coronavirus-related anxiety and adaptive and maladaptive behaviors at two different time points. We tested age as a moderator of the relationship between responsibility and outcomes. 159 participants completed the initial online assessment, whereas 56 completed the second assessment, six months later. OCD symptoms significantly predicted coronavirus-related anxiety, adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. Responsibility beliefs predicted the above-mentioned outcomes, but no longer when controlling for OCD symptoms and age did not moderate these relationships. OCD symptoms may represent both protective and vulnerability factors during the coronavirus pandemic.