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Review
. 2022 Jan;24(1):37-46.
doi: 10.1007/s11920-022-01313-8. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Emotional and Behavioral Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Adolescents

Laure Bera  1 , Mathilde Souchon  1 , Audrey Ladsous  1 , Vincent Colin  1 , Jorge Lopez-Castroman  2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Emotional and Behavioral Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Adolescents

Laure Bera et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review of the literature aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown on teenagers' mental health. We distinguish two groups: adolescents who had already been diagnosed with a mental disorder and the general population of adolescents.

Recent findings: An increase in the number of mental health-related difficulties in adolescents has already been reported in previous health crises. Accordingly, the perceived well-being of teenagers declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescents with mental disorders were significantly more affected by the lockdown than those in the general population. The effect of the COVID-19 crisis on the mental health of adolescents has been heterogeneous. The first pandemic wave was essentially associated with an increase of internalizing symptoms in adolescents, particularly anxiety, depression and eating disorders. The impact on externalizing symptoms was less clear, and seem to concern mostly adolescents with pre-existing behavioral disorders. During the second and later waves of the pandemic, an upsurge of suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents have been reported in many countries.

Keywords: Anxiety; Behavioral disorder; Depression; Mental disorder; Pandemic; Suicide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Risk and protective factors of externalized disorders in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk and protective factors of internalized disorders in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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