Reported Changes in Adolescent Psychosocial Functioning during the COVID-19 Outbreak

What effect the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on adolescents’ psychosocial functioning is currently unknown. Using the data of 1767 (50.2% female and 49.8 male) adolescents in Sweden, we discuss adolescents’ thoughts and behaviors around the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as reported changes in substance use, everyday life, relations, victimization, and mental health during the outbreak. Results showed that (a) the majority of adolescents have been complying with regulations from the government; (b) although most adolescents did not report changes in their psychosocial functioning, a critical number reported more substance use, conflict with parents, less time spent with peers, and poorer control over their everyday life; and (c) the majority of adolescents have experienced less victimization, yet poorer mental health, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Adolescent girls and adolescents in distance schooling were likely to report negative changes in their psychosocial functioning during the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on these findings, we suggest that society should pay close attention to changes in adolescents’ psychosocial functioning during times of crisis.

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Reported Change in Adolescent Psychosocial Functioning during the Covid-19 Outbreak

10.21203/rs.3.rs-99461/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sabina Kapetanovic ◽

Sevtap Gurdal ◽

Birgitta Ander ◽

Emma Sorbring

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Everyday Life ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

Adolescent Females ◽

Critical Number ◽

Close Attention ◽

And Behaviors ◽

The Government ◽

Using Data

Abstract What effect the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has on adolescents’ psychosocial functioning is unknown. Using data of N = 1789 (50% females) adolescents in Sweden we described adolescents’ thoughts and behaviors, as well as perceived changes in substance use, everyday life, relations, victimization, and mental health during the outbreak. Results show that a) adolescents tend to comply with regulations from the government, b) although most adolescents do not experience psychosocial changes, a critical number report increase in substance use and negative relational changes and c) most of the adolescents report poorer control of their everyday life and mental health. Adolescent females and adolescents with distance schooling were likely to report negative changes in their psychosocial functioning during the Covid-19 outbreak. Based on these findings, we suggest that the society should pay close attention to changes in adolescents’ psychosocial functioning during the time of crisis.

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Gendered Factors Associated with Preventive Behaviors and Mental Health among Chinese Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Home Quarantine

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su131910819 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (19) ◽

pp. 10819

Author(s):

Shu-Mei Liu ◽

Shu-Fang Shih ◽

Bo Meng ◽

Rui Zhen ◽

Xiao-Ben Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Emotional Response ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Preventive Behaviors ◽

High Odds ◽

Factors Associated ◽

And Behaviors ◽

The Government

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly impacted the life and mental health of many people globally. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with preventive behaviors and mental health among Chinese adults during their home quarantine in the COVID-19 period. An online questionnaire survey was administered in March 2020. The study participants were adults aged between 18 and 70 years old from 31 provinces in China. Of the 3878 participants, 1314 reported moderate levels of anxiety, and the remaining participants reported moderate to severe levels of anxiety. Findings revealed that females aged between 18 and 30 years old who had higher educational qualifications, greater levels of preventive knowledge, trust in the government, and resided in urban and medium-risk areas (R2 = 0.100, F = 27.97, p < 0.001) were more likely to exhibit preventive behaviors. In contrast, a higher negative emotional response was generally seen in males who had low levels of preventive knowledge and behaviors, higher risk perception of infection, lower trust in the government, and unhealthy lifestyles (R2 = 0.127, F = 32.33, p < 0.001). In addition, the high-risk perception of infection was positively associated with high odds of anxiety (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10–1.24), whereas a greater level of preventive knowledge (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.19–0.70) and behaviors (AOR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.57–0.84), higher trust in the government’s COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.71–0.83), and a healthier lifestyle (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79–0.99) were negatively associated with high odds of anxiety. Results showed that a lower level of anxiety and negative emotional response were associated with better preventive behaviors against COVID-19, which were influenced by preventive knowledge, risk perception, trust in the government’s COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures, and healthy lifestyle. Findings in this study could help formulate health interventions for vulnerable groups related to gendered vulnerabilities in the COVID-19 environment to improve their mental health and preventive behaviors, especially during the period of a pandemic.

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Cyber Sexual Harassment: Prevalence and association with substance use, poor mental health, and STI history among sexually active adolescent girls

Journal of Adolescence ◽

10.1016/j.adolescence.2019.07.005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 ◽

pp. 53-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elizabeth Reed ◽

Marissa Salazar ◽

Alma I. Behar ◽

Niloufar Agah ◽

Jay G. Silverman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Sexually Active

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Smoking, Substance Use, and Mental Health Correlates in Urban Adolescent Girls

Journal of Community Health ◽

10.1007/s10900-010-9340-8 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 552-558 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Susan W. Groth ◽

Dianne Morrison-Beedy

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Urban Adolescent ◽

Urban Adolescent Girls

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Examining marianismo gender role attitudes, ethnic identity, mental health, and substance use in Mexican American early adolescent girls

Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse ◽

10.1080/15332640.2017.1356785 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 319-342 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Delida Sanchez ◽

Elizabeth A. Vandewater ◽

Emma R. Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Ethnic Identity ◽

Gender Role ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Mexican American ◽

Gender Role Attitudes ◽

Early Adolescent

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Knowledge, beliefs, mental health, substance use, and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic among US adults: a national online survey

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1007/s10389-021-01564-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ralph J. DiClemente ◽

Ariadna Capasso ◽

Shahmir H. Ali ◽

Abbey M. Jones ◽

Joshua Foreman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Online Survey ◽

And Behaviors

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The Protective and Risk Effects of Parents and Peers on Substance Use, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Mexican and Mexican American Female and Male Adolescents

Youth & Society ◽

10.1177/0044118x08318117 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 353-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Monica Parsai ◽

Sarah Voisine ◽

Flavio F. Marsiglia ◽

Stephen Kulis ◽

Tanya Nieri

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Mexican American ◽

Male Adolescents ◽

Risk Effects ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

And Behaviors

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Mind the Gap: Disparities in Cigarette Smoking in Canada

Tobacco Use Insights ◽

10.1177/1179173x19839058 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 1179173X1983905 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michael Chaiton ◽

Cynthia Callard

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Relative Risk ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Risk Difference ◽

Immigration Status ◽

Potential Impact ◽

The Government ◽

Government Of Canada

Objectives: The Government of Canada has proposed an ‘endgame’ target for cigarette smoking that aims to reduce prevalence below 5% by 2035. To meet this difficult goal, it will be necessary to identify populations where interventions will (1) have the greatest impact in reducing the number of smokers and (2) have the greatest impact in addressing smoking disparities. Method(s): Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, smoking prevalence was estimated for populations that differed with respect to demographic, substance use, and mental health factors. Risk difference, relative risk, and attributable disparity number, which describes the magnitude of the potential impact if the disparity were addressed, were calculated for each group. Results: The strongest disparities (relative risk ⩾ 2) were associated with immigration status (for women), substance use, marital status, and lifetime experience of mental health or substance use disorders. The smallest disparities (relative risk ⩽ 1.5) were associated with sexual orientation, household income, immigration status (men), and province of residence. The groups with the largest attributable disparity number were among those who used cannabis, and those who were not immigrants, not married, and white. Conclusions: Disparities which were both strong and had a large potential impact on prevalence overall were found for populations facing mental health and substance use concerns. Differences in rankings were found depending on the scale of the measure. Addressing disparities in smoking rates is an important component of developing tobacco endgame strategies.

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How Did The First COVID-19 Lockdown Affect Persons With Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Norway? A Qualitative Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-668233/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marja Leonhardt ◽

Morten Brodahl ◽

Nicola Cogan ◽

Lars Lien

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Everyday Life ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Social Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Structured Interview ◽

The Everyday

Abstract Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 with its severe social restrictions touched the daily life of most people. While everyday social life becomes difficult for citizens with economic and cultural capital, it becomes even worse for vulnerable groups such as persons with mental health and substance use disorders, who are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. The aim of this study is to investigate how the first COVID-19 lockdown affected the everyday life and health of persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.Methods: This qualitative study reports data from 17 individual interviews and one focus group of five participants, all with a self-reported mental health and substance use disorder. Interviews were conducted based on a semi-structured interview guide in September and October 2020 in a medium-sized local authority in Norway. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. A reference group of people with varied knowledge and experiences of the phenomenon were involved in study design, recruitment, data generation and analysis.Results: The analysis identified four interrelated main themes, describing how the first lockdown affected the everyday life and health of persons suffering from a mental health and substance use disorder: 1) The COVID-19 outbreak as a perceived challenge, 2) A decline in mental health and well-being, 3) Increased substance use challenges, and 4) Diverse experiences with health and social services. The results show that people with a co-occurring disorder have challenges with digital tools and/or do not have the appropriate equipment. Further, participants were not concerned about becoming infected themselves, but infecting others.Conclusion:Persons with a mental health and substance use disorder face major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to maintain continuous low-threshold services especially directed towards persons with co-occurring disorders during the pandemic. Furthermore, it is important to improve the digital skills of every service user or offer alternatives to digital consultations and meetings.

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