Impact of COVID and Mental Health on Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: The outbreak of coronavirus causes considerable risk to public health and also might cause an impact on adolescents mental health. COVID-19 has brought about a sense of fear and anxiety around the world. During lockdown, mental health of adolescents through online class and work from home makes it more stressful among adolescents. The aim of the study is to explore the pathway among the different variables in order to better understand how these factors play a part in impacting adolescents' mental health conditions.
 Materials and Methods: The sample size used for the study is 124. Questionnaire based survey is conducted in google forms among adolescents. This standard questionnaire in Google forms is being circulated among the sample study population and at the end of the survey, all the data is been analysed by using chi square analysis. The chi square analysis was done using the software IBM SPSS (Version 23).The data were analysed from the survey and the values were tabulated in the form of pie and bar charts.
 Results: In this study males feel more stress than females and the p value is 0.814 and it is not significant. During COVID period, study stress is caused more among the males than in females and the p value is 0.514 and it is not significant. Mental health was more affected among the males than in females and the p value is 0.261 and it is not significant.In our study population most of them feel stressful during COVID period.
 Conclusion: This study creates awareness among the people about the mental health of adolescents affected during lockdown. The containment measures like school and activity centre's closures for long periods together expose the children and youth to effects on educational, developmental, psychological and attainment as they experience loneliness, anxiety and uncertainty. Using the internet and social media will put them at higher risk. The focal point of the healthcare system and policymaking should be prevention, promotion and inter- ventions corresponding to the public mental health system to meet the mental health needs of the population at large by taking the regional contextual parameters into account.