scholarly journals How did the mental health symptoms of children and adolescents change over early lockdown during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the UK?

JCPP Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Waite ◽  
Samantha Pearcey ◽  
Adrienne Shum ◽  
Jasmine A. L. Raw ◽  
Praveetha Patalay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
The Uk

scholarly journals How did the mental health of children and adolescents change during early lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Waite ◽  
Samantha Pearcey ◽  
Adrienne Shum ◽  
Jasmine Raw ◽  
Praveetha Patalay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Time Points ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive disruption to the lives of children and young people. Understanding the psychological effects on children and young people, in the context of known risk factors, is crucial to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. This study set out to explore how mental health symptoms in children and adolescents changed over a month of full lockdown in the UK in response to the pandemic.MethodsUK-based parents and carers (n = 2,673) of school-aged children and young people aged between 4 and 16 years completed an online survey about their child’s mental health at two time points between March and May 2020, during early lockdown. The survey examined changes in emotional symptoms, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention.ResultsThe findings highlighted particular deteriorations in mental health symptoms among pre-adolescent children, which translated to a 10% increase in those meeting possible/probable caseness criteria for emotional symptoms, a 20% increase in hyperactivity/inattention, and a 35% increase in conduct problems. In contrast, changes among adolescents were smaller (4% and 8% increase for hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems respectively) with a small reduction in emotional symptoms (reflecting a 3% reduction in caseness). Overall, there were few differences in change in symptoms or caseness over time according to demographic characteristics, but children and young people in low income households and those with special educational needs and/or neurodevelopmental disorders, exhibited elevated symptoms (and caseness) at both time points. ConclusionsThe findings highlight important areas of concern in terms of the potential impact of lockdown on children and young people’s adjustment. Developing an understanding of who has been most severely affected by the pandemic, and in what ways, is crucial in order to target effective support where it is most needed.

scholarly journals Risks and Protective Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms During COVID-19 Home Confinement in Italian Children and Adolescents: The #Understandingkids Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Oliva ◽  
Giusy Russo ◽  
Renata Gili ◽  
Luigi Russo ◽  
Antonio Di Mauro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Job Loss ◽  
Home Schooling ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

Objective: To identify risk and protective factors for mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes caused by home confinement in pediatric subjects and in children and adolescents with a neuropsychiatric disorder.Study design: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted from May 10 to May 31, 2020. Two online anonymous surveys were developed: population-based and clinical-based (children with neuropsychiatric disorders). Outcomes included emotional and behavioral symptoms, as assessed by psychometric scales (BPSC, PPSC, PSC, CES-DC and SCARED, respectively), and lifestyle changes during home confinement (i.e., physical activity, screen time, home schooling, reading).Results: The sample included 9,688 pediatric subjects, and 289 children and adolescents with a neuropsychiatric disorder. The presence of siblings was a protective factor in all ages. In pre- and school children: male sex, a diagnosis of autism, residency in highly affected areas, high parental educational level or job loss, and screen time (>2 h/day) were risk factors. Physical activity, home-schooling, reading, talking with other people were protective factors. Residency in highly affected areas, a diagnosis of mood disorder, parental job loss, and screen time, were associated with a worsening of the depressive symptoms, whereas physical activity, talking with other people, playing with parents were protective activities. Screen time was also a risk factor for anxiety symptoms, while physical activity, reading and talking with other people were protective factors.Conclusions: This study identified risk and protective factors for mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes caused by COVID-19 home confinement to promote mental well-being in pediatrics during pandemic times.

scholarly journals Personal, social and relational predictors of UK postgraduate researcher mental health problems

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clio Berry ◽  
Jeremy E. Niven ◽  
Cassie M. Hazell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Supervisory Relationship ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
The Uk

Background Emerging evidence demonstrates that postgraduate researchers have high rates of mental health problems. These problems are distressing, affect PhD studies, and have longer-term potential effects beyond the duration of the PhD. Yet large-scale studies of multiple risk and protective factors are rare. Aims We aimed to test the predictive validity of a comprehensive set of potential determinants of mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety and suicidality) among postgraduate researchers in the UK, including personal, study-related, and supervision characteristics. Method We used regression models applied to data obtained from a national online survey of UK postgraduate researchers (Understanding DOCtoral researcher mental health; U-DOC, 2018–2019) to test predictors of mental health symptoms. Results These models show that postgraduate researchers' mental health symptoms are predicted by demographic, occupational, psychological, social and supervisory relationship factors. Greater perfectionism, more impostor thoughts and reduced supervisory communion most strongly and consistently predict mental health symptoms. Conclusions Institutions training postgraduate researchers should focus interventions intended to improve depression, anxiety, suicidality, on self-beliefs and social connectedness. Moreover, supervisors should be provided with training that improves the degree of agency, and especially communion, in the relationships they form with postgraduate researchers.

scholarly journals Mental health symptoms in a cohort of hospital healthcare workers following the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasun Wanigasooriya ◽  
Priyanka Palimar ◽  
David N. Naumann ◽  
Khalida Ismail ◽  
Jodie L. Fellows ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Moral Dilemmas ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
The Uk

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is likely to lead to a significant increase in mental health disorders among healthcare workers (HCW). Aims We evaluated the rates of anxiety, depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a population of HCW in the UK. Method An electronic survey was conducted between the 5 June 2020 and 31 July 2020 of all hospital HCW in the West Midlands, UK using clinically validated questionnaires: the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-4) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Univariate analyses and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the strengths in associations between 24 independent variables and anxiety, depressive or PTSD symptoms. Results There were 2638 eligible participants who completed the survey (female: 79.5%, median age: 42 years, interquartile range: 32–51). The rates of clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD were 34.3%, 31.2% and 24.5%, respectively. In adjusted analysis a history of mental health conditions was associated with clinically significant symptoms of anxiety (odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% CI 1.9–2.7, P < 0.001), depression (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 2.1–3.0, P < 0.001) and PTSD (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.7–2.5, P < 0.001). The availability of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), well-being support and lower exposure to moral dilemmas at work demonstrated significant negative associations with these symptoms (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions We report higher rates of clinically significant mental health symptoms among hospital HCW following the initial COVID-19 pandemic peak in the UK. Those with a history of mental health conditions were most at risk. Adequate PPE availability, access to well-being support and reduced exposure to moral dilemmas may protect hospital HCW from mental health symptoms.

scholarly journals Pandemic and student mental health: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of mental health symptoms amongst university students and young adults after the first cycle of lockdown in the UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Tang ◽  
Katharine McEnery ◽  
Laura Chandler ◽  
Carla Toro ◽  
Lukasz Walasek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young People ◽  
University Students ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundEarly COVID-19 research suggests a detrimental impact of the initial lockdown on youngpeople’s mental health, but it is unclear whether the impact would persist.AimsWe investigated mental health symptoms amongst university students after the firstlockdown in the UK and changes in symptoms over 6 months. We examined risk factors forthese symptoms and whether they were shared by young people not in higher education.Method895 university students and 547 young people not in higher education completed an onlinesurvey at T1 (July-September 2020). A subset of 203 university students also completeda 6-month follow-up survey at T2 (January-March 2021). Mental health symptomsmeasured were anxiety, depression, insomnia, substance misuse, and suicide risk.ResultsAt T1, nearly 40% of the participants reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety anddepression and risk of substance misuse; a quarter reported insomnia and clinicallysignificant suicidal risk. A reduction in anxiety, depression and insomnia was observed inparticipants reassessed at T2, but not in substance misuse and suicidality.Cross-sectionally, greater symptoms across measures were consistently associated withgender (female or other), sleep irregularity, and a worse-off financial status. Longitudinally,the most consistent risk factors for T2 symptoms were having previously diagnosed mentalhealth problems and having difficulty sleeping since the first lockdown.ConclusionsMental health symptoms were prevalent in a large proportion of young people after the firstlockdown. Risk factors identified may help characterise high-risk groups for enhancedsupport and inform interventions in both university and non-university settings.

Associations between parental distress and pediatric anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment outcomes

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910452110281
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Sperling ◽  
Kathryn Boger ◽  
Mona Potter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Parental Distress ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

This study investigated whether an intensive group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy program with family involvement for children with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder could help reduce parental distress by addressing the larger family system. This study also examined associations between parental distress and parent-reported child outcomes of treatment. Two hundred ninety-nine children and adolescents, ages 6–19, who were patients in the intensive treatment program and their caregivers participated in this intervention-based study. Parents reported significant reductions in their own distress from admission to discharge, and greater reductions in parent-reported distress predicted greater reductions in parents’ reports of their children’s anxiety symptoms and the degree of child functional impairment. Higher levels of parent-reported parent mental health symptoms at children’s admission and at discharge were associated with poorer levels of functioning in children at discharge. Parents’ mental health symptoms may play a critical role in children and adolescents’ treatment outcomes and therefore may need to be a separate treatment target.

scholarly journals Mental Health Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 in Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Sicouri ◽  
Sonja March ◽  
Liz Pellicano ◽  
Alex De Young ◽  
Caroline Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

Objective: COVID-19 has led to disruptions to the lives of Australian families through social distancing, school closures, a temporary move to home-based online learning, and effective lockdown. Understanding the effects on youth mental health is crucial to inform policies to support communities as they face the pandemic and future crises. This paper sought to report on mental health symptoms in Australian children and adolescents during the initial stages of the pandemic (May to November 2020) and to examine its association with child/family characteristics and exposure to the broad COVID-19 environment. Methods: An online longitudinal survey was completed by 1,324 parents and carers of Australian children aged 4 to 17 years. Parents/carers reported on their child’s mental health using five measures, including emotional symptoms, conduct disorder problems, hyperactivity/inattention, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Child/family characteristics and COVID-related variables were measured. Results: Overall, 30.5%, 26.3% and 9.5% of our sample scored in the high to very high range for emotional problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention, respectively. Similarly, 20.2% and 20.4% of our sample scored in the clinical range for anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms respectively. A child’s pre-existing mental health diagnosis, neurodevelopmental condition and chronic illness significantly predicted parent-reported youth mental health symptoms. Parental mental health symptoms, having a close contact with COVID-19 and applying for government financial assistance during COVID-19 were also significant predictors of youth mental health symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings show that Australian youth experienced considerable levels of mental health symptoms during the initial phase of COVID-19, and highlight the need for targeted, effective support for affected youth and particularly for those with pre-existing vulnerabilities

scholarly journals Mental Health Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 in Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Sicouri ◽  
Sonja March ◽  
Liz Pellicano ◽  
Alex De Young ◽  
Caroline Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

Objective: COVID-19 has led to disruptions to the lives of Australian families through social distancing, school closures, a temporary move to home-based online learning, and effective lockdown. Understanding the effects on youth mental health is crucial to inform policies to support communities as they face the pandemic and future crises. This paper sought to report on mental health symptoms in Australian children and adolescents during the initial stages of the pandemic (May to November 2020) and to examine its association with child/family characteristics and exposure to the broad COVID-19 environment. Methods: An online longitudinal survey was completed by 1,324 parents and carers of Australian children aged 4 to 17 years. Parents/carers reported on their child’s mental health using five measures, including emotional symptoms, conduct disorder problems, hyperactivity/inattention, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Child/family characteristics and COVID-related variables were measured. Results: Overall, 30.5%, 26.3% and 9.5% of our sample scored in the high to very high range for emotional problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention, respectively. Similarly, 20.2% and 20.4% of our sample scored in the clinical range for anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms respectively. A child’s pre-existing mental health diagnosis, neurodevelopmental condition and chronic illness significantly predicted parent-reported youth mental health symptoms. Parental mental health symptoms, having a close contact with COVID-19 and applying for government financial assistance during COVID-19 were also significant predictors of youth mental health symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings show that Australian youth experienced considerable levels of mental health symptoms during the initial phase of COVID-19, and highlight the need for targeted, effective support for affected youth and particularly for those with pre-existing vulnerabilities.

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