Lifestyle risk behaviours among adolescents: a two-year longitudinal study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Gardner, Lauren A.; Debenham, Jennifer; Newton, Nicola; Chapman, Cath; Wylie, Fiona Elizabeth; Osman, Bridie; Teesson, Maree; Champion, Katrina

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060309

Cited by 32 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Second, we examined if NSSI independently was associated with covid-19 related stress, even when other variables were controlled for. There is recent empirical support that adolescent girls might be more negatively impacted by the covid-19 pandemic, with a more risky life style [ 8 ], more stress [ 1 ] and increased presentation to health care for self-harm, irrespective of intent [ 48 ], but our results did not support any sex differences in how covid-19 was perceived when symptoms of depression, anxiety and ER difficulties were taken into account.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

“…Although less burdened by somatic complications caused by the virus, factors such as societal restrictions, closed schools and family distress have contributed to the lives of children and adolescents being severely affected by covid-19 [ 5 , 6 ]. In adolescents, elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress, for example, have been found during the pandemic [ 1 , 4 , 7 ], as well as increased risk behaviors [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The psychosocial consequences of covid-19 in adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury

Zetterqvist

Landberg

Jönsson

et al. 2023

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

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Background Young people have been especially affected by the psychosocial consequences of the covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 has potentially also been more stressful for vulnerable groups with mental health problems. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the psychosocial effects of covid-19 in a vulnerable group of adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) from a sample of 1602 Swedish high-school students were examined. Data were collected in 2020 and 2021. First, adolescents with and without NSSI were compared on how they perceived the psychosocial impact of covid-19, and second, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine whether lifetime NSSI experience was associated with perceived psychosocial consequences of covid-19, when demographic variables and symptoms of mental health problems were controlled for. Interaction effects were also examined. Results Significantly more individuals with NSSI reported being burdened by covid-19 compared to those without NSSI. When demographic variables and mental health symptoms were controlled for, adding NSSI experience did not, however, increase the amount of variance explained in the model. The total model explained 23.2% of the variance in perceived psychosocial impact of covid-19. Perceiving the family’s financial situation as poor and neither good nor bad, studying a theoretical high school program, symptoms of depression and difficulties with emotion regulation were significantly associated with perceived negative psychosocial impact of the covid-19 pandemic. There was a significant interaction effect between NSSI experience and depressive symptoms. The effect of NSSI experience was larger when depressive symptoms were lower. Conclusions Lifetime NSSI experience in itself was not associated with psychosocial covid-19 consequences when other variables were controlled for, whereas symptoms of depression and difficulties with emotion regulation were. Results imply that vulnerable adolescents with mental health symptoms need special attention and access to mental health support in order to prevent further stress and worsening of mental health symptoms in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The psychosocial consequences of covid-19 in adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury

Zetterqvist

Landberg

Jönsson

et al. 2023

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

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“…Crosssectional data from a sample of 983 adolescents indicated increases of excessive recreational screen time (86 to 94%) and insufficient fruit intake (20 to 30%). As well, this data indicated proportions of adolescents engaging in insufficient physical activity (82%) and vegetable intake (84%) remained concerning [3]. The intersection of risk factors for both obesity and mental health demonstrates the need for holistic programs which provide support to improve lifestyle risk factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Research has established associations between several lifestyle risk factors, including physical activity, nutrition, sedentary behaviour and sleep that are contributing to the declining physical and mental health status of adolescents [2,3]. Adolescents in high income countries, like Australia are not meeting national guidelines for these risk factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A healthy lifestyle text message intervention for adolescents: protocol for the Health4Me randomized controlled trial

et al. 2022

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Background Adolescence presents a window of opportunity to establish good nutrition and physical activity behaviours to carry throughout the life course. Adolescents are at risk of developing cardiovascular and other chronic diseases due to poor the complex interplay of physical and mental health lifestyle risk factors. Text messaging is adolescents main form of everyday communication and text message programs offer a potential solution for support and improvement of lifestyle health behaviours. The primary aim of this study is to determine effectiveness of the Health4Me text message program to improve adolescent’s physical activity or nutrition behaviours among adolescents over 6-months, compared to usual care. Methods Health4Me is a virtual, two-arm, single-blind randomised controlled trial, delivering a 6-month healthy lifestyle text message program with optional health counselling. Recruitment will be through digital advertising and primary care services. In total, 330 adolescents will be randomised 1:1 to intervention or control (usual care) groups. The intervention group will receive 4–5 text messages per week for 6-months. All text messages have been co-designed with adolescents. Messages promote a healthy lifestyle by providing practical information, health tips, motivation and support for behaviour change for physical activity, nutrition, mental health, body image, popular digital media and climate and planetary health. Virtual assessments will occur at baseline and 6-months assessing physical health (physical activity, nutrition, body mass index, sleep), mental health (quality of life, self-efficacy, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, eating disorder risk) and lifestyle outcomes (food insecurity and eHealth literacy). Discussion This study will determine the effectiveness of a 6-month healthy lifestyle text message intervention to improve physical activity and nutrition outcomes in adolescents. Trial registration Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622000949785, Date registered: 05/07/2022.

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“…Worldwide, COVID-19 restrictions were actualized, and behaviors (including risk behaviors) naturally changed as students adapted to the new environment. Many researchers predicted and reported negative long-term consequences among children and adolescents—particularly excessive recreational screen time, poor diet, physical inactivity, and poor sleep, but also increases in substance use, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and suicidal thoughts [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. However, a few reported that restrictions actually resulted in decreases in alcohol consumption and norm-breaking behaviors and that adolescents showed resilience [ 25 , 43 , 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Swedish High School Students’ Drug and Alcohol Use Habits throughout 2020

Sfendla

Bador²,

Paganelli³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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This study describes gender-specific patterns in alcohol and drug use among Swedish high school students throughout 2020 and questions the current cutoffs for identifying addiction in this population. From September 2020 to February 2021, 1590 Swedish upper secondary high school students (mean age 17.15 years, age range 15–19 years, 39.6% male, and 60.4% female) completed the anonymous, electronic survey of the Mental and Somatic Health without borders study. The respondents reported their substance use habits during the previous 12 months using the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). They also answered questions about changes in their alcohol and illegal drug use habits after the COVID-19 outbreak. No gender differences were detected in the prevalence and degree of alcohol use. Compared to female adolescents, significantly more male adolescents used drugs (and to a significantly higher degree, although with a small effect size). Substance use problems peaked in females at age 17 and in males at age 18. The COVID-19 outbreak affected alcohol consumption and illegal drug use in male and female adolescents similarly. For both genders, of those who used illegal drugs, over 40% reported increased use after the outbreak. Our results reinforce previous suggestions of the narrowing of gender differences in Swedish adolescents’ risk behaviors and challenge the previously validated gender-specific cutoffs for the AUDIT and DUDIT. An improved understanding of the impacts of gender diversity and evolving gender roles and norms on behaviors and mental health is warranted.

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Lifestyle risk behaviours among adolescents: a two-year longitudinal study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 32 publications

References 44 publications

The psychosocial consequences of covid-19 in adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury

The psychosocial consequences of covid-19 in adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury

A healthy lifestyle text message intervention for adolescents: protocol for the Health4Me randomized controlled trial

Swedish High School Students’ Drug and Alcohol Use Habits throughout 2020

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