Coping through crisis: COVID-19 pandemic experiences and adolescent mental health and well-being in the WHO European Region: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s health and well-being from the findings of the HBSC survey round 2021/2022

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures, such as social distancing, school closures and isolation, have affected the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. This report outlines three factors of adolescent mental health and well-being (life satisfaction and psychological and physical health complaints) and focuses on links between self-reported negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (on school performance and relationships with family and peers) and adolescent mental health and well-being in 22 countries and regions of the WHO European Region. The information and data presented were collected from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey round 2021/2022. Thirty per cent of adolescents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had had a negative impact on their mental health. Relatively more adolescents (37%) experienced no impact on their mental health, and 33% reported positive impacts. Adolescents who indicated a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school performance and relationships with family and friends were more likely to report low life satisfaction and high levels of psychological and physical health complaints than the group reporting a neutral impact. Variations across countries and regions in the links between negative impacts on school performance and relationships with family and peers and mental health were wide. Girls and 15-year-olds were more likely to report low life satisfaction and high levels of psychological and physical health complaints that were linked to negative impacts of the pandemic.