We stick together! COVID-19 and psychological adjustment in youth residential care

Abstract

Background Children and youth residential care institutions were forced to introduce adaptations to their regular functioning in order to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the lockdown on the adolescents’ psychological adjustment and whether adolescents’ perceived cohesion mitigated the increase of adolescents` psychological adjustment problems. Participants Participants were 243 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, living in 21 different residential care institutions. Results The results suggested a moderating role of cohesion on the stability of adolescents’ emotional distress across time. Lower levels of cohesion were related with higher emotional distress stability across time. On the contrary, as cohesion increased, the association between adolescents’ emotional distress at T0 and T1 decreased. Discussion Results are discussed considering the mechanisms raised by the institutions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize the negative effects on the psychological adjustment of adolescents living in residential care.

A Creative and Movement-Based Blended Intervention for Children in Outpatient Residential Care: A Mixed-Method, Multi-Center, Single-Arm Feasibility Trial

“…According to a longitudinal study during the COVID-19 pandemic [6], low educational attainment, migrant backgrounds, parental mental illness, and crowded home spaces were identified as risk factors for an increased burden among children and adolescents. In line with these findings, particularly vulnerable groups are identified as those children and adolescents who experienced financial, household, and/or social disadvantages prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as children with migrant or refugee backgrounds, and children in residential care [7,8].…”

Professionals’ Perspectives on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Child and Adolescent Victims of Domestic Violence Living in the Portuguese Residential Foster Care System

“…The most preeminent consequences, besides the changes in internal and external institutional processes and dynamics, were felt by children and adolescents who were deprived of school routines, regular social interactions, and family contact and those who were subjected to measures of prophylactic isolation considered particularly stressful. As indicated by several studies, e.g., [28], they experienced manifestations of sadness, signs of anxiety, opposition/challenging behaviors, signs of irritability, learning difficulties, and sleep difficulties, showing that children and adolescents' mental health was highly disturbed.…”

“…To analyze adolescents' psychological adjustment across two assessment waves, before and during the pandemic, Costa et al [28] evaluated 243 adolescents living in 21 Infant and Juvenile Residential care institutions. The authors concluded that cohesion predicted negative emotional distress, confirming the importance of residential care members supporting each other and creating positive contextual interactions [28].…”

Group Homes and COVID-19: Perspectives of Youth Residents, Staff, and Caregivers

“…The early data suggest that the pandemic had devastating effects on our communities, including youth [ 1 ]. Over 12.9 million children and youth tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic [ 2 ] Youth in congregate care settings are at an increased risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 to others [ 3 ], as well as experiencing negative effects because of the virus [ 1 ].…”