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. 2022 Nov;71(5):570-578.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.06.022. Epub 2022 Aug 18.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the Three-Wave Longitudinal COPSY Study

Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer  1 , Michael Erhart  2 , Janine Devine  3 , Martha Gilbert  3 , Franziska Reiss  3 , Claus Barkmann  3 , Nico A Siegel  4 , Anja M Simon  4 , Klaus Hurrelmann  5 , Robert Schlack  6 , Heike Hölling  6 , Lothar H Wieler  7 , Anne Kaman  3
Affiliations

Child and Adolescent Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the Three-Wave Longitudinal COPSY Study

Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer et al. J Adolesc Health. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose: The German population-based longitudinal COVID-19 andPsychological Health study monitors changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies vulnerable groups.

Methods: A nationwide, population-based survey was conducted in May 2020 to June 2020 (Wave 1), December 2020 to January 2021 (Wave 2), and September 2021 to October 2021 (Wave 3). In total, n = 2,097 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years were investigated using measures to assess HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-10), mental health problems (SDQ), anxiety (SCARED), depressive symptoms(PHQ-2), and psychosomatic complaints(HBSC-SCL).

Results: The prevalence of low HRQoL increased from 15% prepandemic to 40% and 48% in Waves 1 and 2 and improved slightly to 35% in Wave 3 (all differences significant). Similarly, overall mental health problems increased from 18% prepandemic to 29% in Wave 1 and 31% in Wave 2 to 28% in Wave 3 (all differences significant, except Wave 3 vs. 2), anxiety increased from 15% prepandemic to 24% and 30% in Waves 1 and 2 and was still 27% in Wave 3. Depressive symptoms increased from 10% prepandemic to 11% and 15% in Waves 1 and 2 and were 11% in Wave 3. A group with low parental education, restricted living conditions, migration background, and parental mental health problems was at significantly increased risk of HRQoL and mental health impairments.

Discussion: The prevalence of low HRQoL, mental health problems, and anxiety has been elevated throughout the pandemic. Thus, mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention strategies need to be implemented to support adolescents-particularly those at risk.

Keywords: Adolescents; Anxiety; Depression; Health-related quality of life; Longitudinal study; Mental health; SARS-COV-2.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Numbers of participating families and children in Wave 1, Wave 2, and Wave 3 of the COPSY study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentages of children and adolescents with low, normal, and high health-related quality of life measured prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (BELLA study), in Wave 1, Wave 2, and Wave 3 of the COPSY study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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