Children and teens who experienced significant changes in their lifestyle and health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic may be more likely to experience symptoms of pandemic-related post-traumatic stress (PTS), according to a recent ECHO Cohort study led by Amy Margolis, PhD of The Ohio State University.
The United States is facing a growing youth mental health crisis with a significant increase in mental or behavioral health conditions, partly linked to changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. To understand how changes in family hardships, behaviors, and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced youth PTS symptoms, researchers collected information from 7,786 children and 1,353 teens and young adults and their parents or caregivers across the United States between April 2020 and August 2021.
Key Takeaways include:
- Two groups of families were identified based on their experiences of hardships, changes in daily behaviors, and coping strategies during COVID-19. The first group had minimal changes in their lifestyle and behaviors, while the second group had significant changes. The low change group included a higher proportion of Black families, single-parent households, and lower income and education levels.
- Children and teens in the group with significant changes had higher Pandemic-related Traumatic Stress Scale (PTSS) scores compared to the group with minimal changes.
- Some aspects of parent or caregiver experiences, including their ability to isolate during the pandemic, were associated with lower PTSS scores in children. Youth whose parents or caregivers reported no change in their own behaviors were more likely to report lower PTSS scores.
- Changes in youth health behaviors (like eating, physical activity, and media use) and access to healthcare were important factors associated with PTSS scores. Stability in these areas was linked to lower PTSS scores.
- The use of coping strategies by children and teens did not significantly reduce PTSS scores. Some coping strategies, like increased media use and substance use, were linked to higher PTSS scores.
This study provides valuable insight that could help improve youth mental health now and in the wake of future public health emergencies. It demonstrates the importance of stability in health behaviors, access to healthcare, and the ability for parents to isolate safely as key factors in reducing youth PTS symptoms.
This collaborative research, titled “Changes to Family Life, Youth COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Traumatic Stress, and the Youth Mental Health Crisis,” is published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology.