Anxiety and depressive symptomatology among children and adolescents exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic - meta-analysis

Background/Aim: Children and adolescents are the sensitive groups for the development of mental disorders during the crisis. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding anxiety and depressive symptomatology in this population. Method: Investigation is based on a Systematic Review followed by PRISMA protocol including Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health and APA Psyc Info data bases to identify relevant studies reporting anxiety and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. 27 articles were included. Results: Anxiety symptoms increased from 28.3% before the pandemic to 49.5% during confinement (GAD-7 ? 11) (McNemar test p <0.0001). More depression symptomatology was found as well; weight and sleep changes are disturbances in children and adolescents? mental health. Additionally, female teenagers were experiencing grater declines in mood disorders than male teenagers during the COVID-19 crisis. On one hand, different positive correlations between anxiety and other variables, were found, such as clinical depressive symptoms and anxiety (3/14), smartphone and internet addiction (2/14), lower levels of family income (2/14), perceived threats (2/14), higher grades at school (2/14), loneliness (1/14). On the other hand, positive correlations were reported between depression and children and adolescents that were socially disconnected (3/17). Finally, mothers with higher levels of education and income were associated with more happiness (2/17). Conclusions: COVID-19 has a strong impact in children?s and adolescents? mental health regarding depression and anxiety symptoms. Prevention programs focused on coping strategies should also be considered to be delivered in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. Mental health should become a priority matter for governments and the current pandemic could be an opportunity to highlight the importance of mental well-being and to invest in the betterment of clinical trainings, treatments and mental health research.

Download Full-text

Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073432 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3432

Author(s):

Salima Meherali ◽

Neelam Punjani ◽

Samantha Louie-Poon ◽

Komal Abdul Rahim ◽

Jai K. Das ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

School Closure ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Psychosocial Services ◽

The Impact

Background: The COVID‑19 pandemic and associated public health measures have disrupted the lives of people around the world. It is already evident that the direct and indirect psychological and social effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic are insidious and affect the mental health of young children and adolescents now and will in the future. The aim and objectives of this knowledge-synthesis study were to identify the impact of the pandemic on children’s and adolescent’s mental health and to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions employed during previous and the current pandemic to promote children’s and adolescents’ mental health. Methodology: We conducted the systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and included experimental randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, observational studies, and qualitative studies. Results: Of the 5828 articles that we retrieved, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria. We thematically analyzed them and put the major findings under the thematic areas of impact of the pandemic on children’s and adolescents’ mental health. These studies reported that pandemics cause stress, worry, helplessness, and social and risky behavioral problems among children and adolescents (e.g., substance abuse, suicide, relationship problems, academic issues, and absenteeism from work). Interventions such as art-based programs, support services, and clinician-led mental health and psychosocial services effectively decrease mental health issues among children and adolescents. Conclusion: Children and adolescents are more likely to experience high rates of depression and anxiety during and after a pandemic. It is critical that future researchers explore effective mental health strategies that are tailored to the needs of children and adolescents. Explorations of effective channels regarding the development and delivery of evidenced-based, age-appropriate services are vital to lessen the effects and improve long-term capacities for mental health services for children and adolescents. Key Practitioner Message: The COVID-19 pandemic’s physical restrictions and social distancing measures have affected each and every domain of life. Although the number of children and adolescents affected by the disease is small, the disease and the containment measures such as social distancing, school closure, and isolation have negatively impacted the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of children and adolescents is of great concern. Anxiety, depression, disturbances in sleep and appetite, as well as impairment in social interactions are the most common presentations. It has been indicated that compared to adults, this pandemic may continue to have increased long term adverse consequences on children’s and adolescents’ mental health. As the pandemic continues, it is important to monitor the impact on children’s and adolescents’ mental health status and how to help them to improve their mental health outcomes in the time of the current or future pandemics.

Download Full-text

Mental health of the children who are active users of digital media (literature review)

10.24075/rbh.2021.017 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

GA Goncharova

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Literature Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Digital Media ◽

Well Being ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

The article provides a literary review of studies on the impact of digitalization on indicators of mental health and well-being (emotional well-being, behaviour, communication, learning) of children and adolescents. The vast majority of researchers note the prevalence of different disorders in children and adolescents, including inattention, hyperactivity, anxiety, depressive symptoms, obsessive disorders etc.

Download Full-text

SEPARATED KIN: RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER ADULTS LEFT BEHIND IN RURAL CHINA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S880-S880

Author(s):

Zhiyong Lin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural China ◽

Well Being ◽

Migrant Children ◽

Urban Migration ◽

Left Behind ◽

Rate Of Increase ◽

The Impact

Abstract As the processes of urbanization and globalization have intensified across the world, a burgeoning literature has documented the impact of emigration on the health of family members left behind in emigrant communities. Although the association between children’s migration and parental well-being is well documented, few have examined the health implications of children’s migration in the milieu of multiple children and further differentiated between children’s short-term and long-term migration. Therefore, I argue that it is not the geographic locality of a single child but the composition of all children’s location that matters. I further suggest that the impact of children’s migration on parental wellbeing is conditioned on the duration of children’s migration. Using a six waves longitudinal data (2001-2015) collected in rural China, this paper compares mental health (measured as depressive symptoms) trajectories of old adults (aged 60 and older) across different compositions of local and migrant children over a 14-year span. Results from growth curve models show that parents having more migrant children relative to local children experience a more rapid increase in depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults who have their most children migrate away for three or more waves of data have experienced the steepest rate of increase in depressive symptoms. These findings provide new evidence to support the life course processes of mental health disparities among older adults from the perspective of intergenerational proximity.

Download Full-text

Shame Mediates the Relationship Between Pain Invalidation and Depression

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.743584 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Brandon L. Boring ◽

Kaitlyn T. Walsh ◽

Namrata Nanavaty ◽

Vani A. Mathur

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Withdrawal ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Internalized Shame ◽

Self Worth ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

The experience of pain is subjective, yet many people have their pain invalidated or not believed. Pain invalidation is associated with poor mental health, including depression and lower well-being. Qualitative investigations of invalidating experiences identify themes of depression, but also social withdrawal, self-criticism, and lower self-worth, all of which are core components of shame. Despite this, no studies have quantitatively assessed the interrelationship between pain invalidation, shame, and depression. To explore this relationship, participants recounted the frequency of experienced pain invalidation from family, friends, and medical professionals, as well as their feelings of internalized shame and depressive symptoms. As shame has been shown to be a precursor for depression, we further explored the role of shame as a mediator between pain invalidation and depressive symptoms. All sources of pain invalidation were positively associated with shame and depressive symptoms, and shame fully mediated the relationship between each source of pain invalidation and depression. Relative to other sources, pain invalidation from family was most closely tied to shame and depression. Overall, findings indicate that one mechanism by which pain invalidation may facilitate depression is via the experience of shame. Future research may explore shame as a potential upstream precursor to depression in the context of pain. Findings provide more insight into the harmful influence of pain invalidation on mental health and highlight the impact of interpersonal treatment on the experiences of people in pain.

Download Full-text

The impact of leishmaniasis on mental health and psychosocial well-being: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0223313 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. e0223313 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Malini Pires ◽

Barry Wright ◽

Paul M. Kaye ◽

Virgínia da Conceição ◽

Rachel C. Churchill

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Well Being ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Fatigue in patients on oral targeted or chemotherapy for cancer and associations with anxiety, depression, and quality of life

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s147895151900066x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 141-147

Author(s):

Hanneke Poort ◽

Jamie M. Jacobs ◽

William F. Pirl ◽

Jennifer S. Temel ◽

Joseph A. Greer

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Oral Treatment ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Severe Fatigue ◽

Patient Reported ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectivesOral treatment (targeted or chemotherapy) for cancer is being increasingly used. While fatigue is a known side effect of intravenous chemotherapy, the rate of fatigue and the impact of fatigue on other patient-reported outcomes are not well described.MethodAt Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, 180 adult patients prescribed oral targeted or chemotherapy for various malignancies enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of adherence and symptom management. Patients completed baseline self-reported measures of fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory; BFI), anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS), and quality of life, including subscales for physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being ([QOL] Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy — General; FACT-G). We examined clinically relevant fatigue using a validated cut-off score for moderate-severe fatigue (BFI global fatigue ≥4) and tested the associations with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and QOL with independent samples t-tests.ResultsAt baseline, 45 of 180 participants (25.0%) reported moderate-severe fatigue. Fatigued patients experienced more anxiety symptoms (mean diff. 3.73, P < 0.001), more depressive symptoms (mean diff. 4.14, P < 0.001), and worse QOL on the total FACT-G score (mean diff. −19.58, P < 0.001) and all subscales of the FACT-G compared to patients without moderate-severe fatigue.Significance of resultsOne in four patients on oral treatment for cancer experienced clinically relevant fatigue that is associated with greater anxiety and depressive symptoms and worse QOL.

Download Full-text

Rapid Systematic Review: The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in the Context of COVID-19

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jaac.2020.05.009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (11) ◽

pp. 1218-1239.e3 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Maria Elizabeth Loades ◽

Eleanor Chatburn ◽

Nina Higson-Sweeney ◽

Shirley Reynolds ◽

Roz Shafran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Social Isolation ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Life review therapy for older adults with depressive symptoms in general practice: results of a pilot evaluation

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610219000218 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (12) ◽

pp. 1801-1808 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lotte Hendriks ◽

Marjolein A. Veerbeek ◽

Daniëlle Volker ◽

Lindsay Veenendaal ◽

Bernadette M. Willemse

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

General Practice ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Well Being ◽

Life Review ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Life Review Therapy ◽

General Practices

ABSTRACTObjective:General practices play an important role in the detection and treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults. An adapted version of the indicated preventive life review therapy group intervention called Looking for Meaning (LFM) was developed for general practice and a pilot evaluation was conducted.Design:A pretest-posttest design was used. One week before and one week after the intervention participants filled out questionnaires.Setting:In six general practices in the Netherlands the adapted intervention was given.Participants:Inclusion criteria were > 60 years and a score of 5 or higher on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).Intervention:The length and number of LFM sessions were shortened and the intervention was given by one mental health care nurse practitioner (MHCNP).Measurements:The impact on mental health was analyzed by depressive symptoms (CES-D) as the primary outcome and anxiety symptoms (HADS-A), psychological well-being (PGCMS) and mastery (PMS) as secondary outcomes. An evaluative questionnaire was included to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability.Results:Most participants were satisfied with the adaptations of the number (72%) and length (72%) of sessions. The overall sample showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms after the intervention. No impact was found on psychological well-being, anxiety symptoms and mastery.Conclusions:The intervention is feasible and acceptable for older adults with depressive symptoms and has an impact on their depressive symptoms.

Download Full-text

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Societal Infection Control Measures on Children and Adolescents' Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.711791 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jamile Marchi ◽

Nina Johansson ◽

Anna Sarkadi ◽

Georgina Warner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Infection Control ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Measures ◽

Parenting Support ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

The Impact

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is primarily a crisis that affects people's physical health. However, it is well-known from previous epidemics and pandemics that there are other indirect negative impacts on mental health, among others. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore and summarise primary empirical research evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic and societal infection control measures have impacted children and adolescents' mental health.Methods: A literature search was conducted in five scientific databases: PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINHAL, and Social Science Premium Collection. The search string was designed using the Population (0–18 years), Exposure (COVID-19), Outcomes (mental health) framework. Mental health was defined broadly, covering mental well-being to mental disorders and psychiatric conditions.Results: Fifty-nine studies were included in the scoping review. Of these, 44 were cross-sectional and 15 were longitudinal studies. Most studies reported negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child and adolescent mental health outcomes, yet the evidence was mixed. This was also the case for studies investigating societal control measures. Strong resilience, positive emotion regulation, physical activity, parental self-efficacy, family functioning and emotional regulation, and social support were reported as protective factors. On the contrary, emotional reactivity and experiential avoidance, exposure to excessive information, COVID-19 school concerns, presence of COVID-19 cases in the community, parental mental health problems, and high internet, social media and video game use were all identified as potentially harmful factors.Conclusions: Due to the methodological heterogeneity of the studies and geographical variation, it is challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. However, the existing body of research gives some insight to how parents, clinicians and policy makers can take action to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and control measures. Interventions to promote physical activity and reduce screen time among children and adolescents are recommended, as well as parenting support programs.

Download Full-text

The impact of the initial and 2nd national COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in young people with and without pre-existing depressive symptoms

10.1101/2021.11.03.21265861 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Joensen ◽

Stine Danielsen ◽

Per Kragh Andersen ◽

Jonathan Groot ◽

Katrine Strandberg-Larsen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Young People ◽

Cross Sections ◽

Random Effect ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Well Being ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Linear Regressions

Background The evidence on mental well-being and loneliness among young people during the initial lockdown is mixed, and little is known about the long-lasting impact of the sequential lockdowns. We examine changes in young peoples mental health from before to during the initial and second more prolonged lockdown, and whether women and those with pre-existing depressive symptoms were disproportionally impacted. Methods Participants reported on mental health indicators in an ongoing 18-year data collection in the Danish National Birth Cohort and in a COVID-19 survey, including 8 data points: 7 in the initial lockdown, and 1 year post. Changes in quality of life (QoL), mental well-being, and loneliness were estimated with random effect linear regressions on longitudinal data (N=32,985), and linear regressions on repeated cross-sections (N=28,579). Findings Interim deterioration in mental well-being and loneliness was observed during the initial lockdown, and only in those without pre-existing depressive symptoms. During the second lockdown, a modest deterioration was again observed for mental well-being and loneliness. QoL likewise only declined among those without pre-existing symptoms, where women showed a greater decline than men. QoL did not normalise during the initial lockdown and remained at lower levels during the second lockdown. These findings were not replicated in the repeated cross-sections. Interpretation Except for an interim decrease in mental health during lockdown, and only in those without pre-existing depressive symptoms, this studys findings do not suggest a substantial detrimental impact of the lockdowns. Potential methodological differences in-between studies are a possible explanation for the mixed evidence. Funding The Velux Foundation

Download Full-text