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Internalizing symptoms and family functioning predict adolescent depressive symptoms during COVID-19: A longitudinal study in a community sample.
Vacaru, Stefania V; Beijers, Roseriet; de Weerth, Carolina.
  • Vacaru SV; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
  • Beijers R; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
  • de Weerth C; Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
PLoS One ; 17(3): e0264962, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1753192
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown pose a threat for adolescents' mental health, especially for those with an earlier vulnerability. Accordingly, these adolescents may need increased support from family and friends. This study investigated whether family functioning and peer connectedness protects adolescents with earlier internalizing or externalizing symptoms from increased depressive symptoms during the first Dutch COVID-19 lockdown in a low-risk community sample.

METHODS:

This sample comprised 115 adolescents (Mage = 13.06; 44% girls) and their parents (N = 111) and is part of an ongoing prospective study on child development. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were self-reported a year before the COVID-19 lockdown. In an online survey during the first Dutch lockdown (April-May 2020), adolescents reported depressive symptoms and perceived peer connectedness, and parents reported family functioning.

RESULTS:

Twenty-four percent of adolescents reported clinically relevant symptoms of depression during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Depressive symptoms were significantly predicted by earlier internalizing, but not externalizing symptoms. Furthermore, higher quality of family functioning, but not peer connectedness, predicted fewer adolescent depressive symptoms. Family functioning and peer connectedness did not moderate the link between pre-existing internalizing symptoms and later depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a low-risk community sample, one-in-four adolescents reported clinically relevant depressive symptoms at the first COVID-19 lockdown. Higher earlier internalizing symptoms and lower quality of family functioning increased risks. These results indicate that even in low-risk samples, a substantial group of adolescents and their families are vulnerable during times of crisis.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Quarantine / Depressive Disorder / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adolescent / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0264962

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Quarantine / Depressive Disorder / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adolescent / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0264962