Adolescent mental health and activities in the period of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose:The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the forms of youth activity (in a virtual environment and in the real world) and their mental health in the period of forced social isolation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings presented here are part of a larger international project (research-all.org). Methods: The subjects were students of primary and secondary schools in Kraków (N = 455), aged 11 to 18 (M = 15.38, SD = 2.10). The instruments used in this study were: the MHC-SF Karaś, Cieciuch and Keyes wellbeing scale, the Connor-Davidson CD-RSC resilience scale, and the DASS-21 Lovibond scale designed to measure depression, anxiety and stress. The participants also reported the amount of time they spent on eight types of activity (online and offline) during and before social isolation. Results: Correlation analysis showed that the more time students spend actively in a virtual environment, the higher the level of depression (r = 0.27; p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.25; p < 0.001), stress (r = 0.25; p < 0.001). The duration of online activity is also negatively correlated with psychological well-being (r = -0.13; p = 0.013), emotional well-being (r = -0.15; p = 0.003) and social well-being (r = -0.12; p = 0.026). Well-being increases with a higher number of activities that are not mediated by a screen medium (r = 0.17; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Social isolation resulted in an increase in online activity both in education and in the social life of young people. The results obtained indicate the intensification of negative affectivity in adolescents who spend more time in the online environments. Moreover, the protective role of non-Internet physical and social activities for the mental health of young people has been demonstrated.

Changes and correlates of screen time in adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…86 All four outcomes examining depression and screen time in children yielded significant associations, including between depression and: playing online video games (r = 0¢12; p=<0¢05); internet browsing (r = 0¢21; p=<0¢01); TV use (r = 0¢16; p=<0¢01); and social media use (r = 0¢23; p=<0¢01). 103 Conversely, no significant associations were found between sadness and screen time in any of the seven independent outcomes. 72,86 A total of 23 outcomes examined associations between screen time and behavioural factors, with 53% (9/17) of negative behavioural factors being statistically significant.…”

“…11 Playing online games (r = 0¢11; p=<0¢05), internet browsing (r = 0¢21; p=<0¢01), TV use (r = 0¢16; p=<0¢01), and social media use (r = 0¢23; p=<0¢01) were all also significantly associated with anxiety. 103 Increases in overall screen time, however, was not significantly associated with anxiety. 86 All four outcomes examining depression and screen time in children yielded significant associations, including between depression and: playing online video games (r = 0¢12; p=<0¢05); internet browsing (r = 0¢21; p=<0¢01); TV use (r = 0¢16; p=<0¢01); and social media use (r = 0¢23; p=<0¢01).…”

“…57 Children. In children, 24 studies 9,11,15,66,72,74,76,79,81,83,86,88,[90][91][92]95,98,99,103,[105][106][107]109,111 reported 181 outcomes across the following areas: diet, eye health, mental health, physical activity, parental health, physiology, sleep, and problematic behaviours (see Supplementary Table 3).…”

“…health. Eleven studies, 11,72,74,79,83,86,91,103,105,106,109 with 86 independent outcomes examined screen time and aspects of mental health, with 29% (25/86) being significant.…”

The Influence of Faith and Religion on Family Interactions and Interest in Health Issues during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Study among Polish Adolescents

“…COVID-19 dominated health, economic, and geopolitical multipolar issues for many months (if not years) [ 1 ]. Recent research has revealed that fear of COVID-19 affects mental health, well-being, and behavior in adolescents who are, in this context, an especially vulnerable group [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The problem of the pandemic’s influence on different aspects of family life, social functioning, and general well-being among adolescents has been a subject of numerous studies.…”