Younger people are more vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A global cross-sectional survey

Varma, Prerna; Junge, Moira; Meaklim, Hailey; Jackson, Melinda L.

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110236

Cited by 547 publications

(542 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Children and adolescents are more vulnerable to mental distress during the pandemic [ 12 ]. Although COVID-19 is less threatening to children and adolescents in terms of infectious morbidity and mortality [ 13 ], the lockdown and quarantine measures have brought new challenges and negative impact on their mental health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts on Children and Adolescents’ Lifestyle, Social Support and Their Association with Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Zhu

Zhuang

2021

IJERPH

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The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health-related behaviors among children and adolescents are likely to be profound and long-lasting. This study aimed to investigate the changes in lifestyle and social support and their associations with negative impacts due to the pandemic. A classroom survey using stratified random sampling and structured questionnaire was conducted among Hong Kong primary and secondary school students. The paper-and-pen survey, administered by well-trained research assistants, was completed by 2863 participants aged 9–17 years old (M = 12.6, SD = 1.3) at a brief school reopening six months after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 48% and 37% of the participants stated that they paid increased attention to physical and mental health, respectively. About 20% to 40% stated that they found more support from their friends and family members; only a small percentage reported decreased social support. Around 25% to 50% spent more time to rest, relax, and exercise. The aforementioned changes varied among genders, education groups, and socio-economic status. In general, higher perceived vulnerability, feeling more stressed, apprehensive, and helpless were associated with more reported positive lifestyle changes, including more social/family support, increased mental health awareness, and a positive lifestyle. These positive changes serve as important cushions against the negative impacts of COVID-19.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts on Children and Adolescents’ Lifestyle, Social Support and Their Association with Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Zhu

Zhuang

2021

IJERPH

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“…Examining the interactions between sleep and mental health is now more important than ever, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt daily life. While the negative effects of this pandemic on mental health are evident [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], their links with sleep disturbances require further investigation. Research investigating sleep disturbance may have translational benefits of improving sleep and reducing global mental health burden.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor Sleep Quality and Its Relationship with Individual Characteristics, Personal Experiences and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Varma

Burge

Meaklim

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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While the COVID-19 has dramatically altered our lifestyle and sleep practices, the links between sleep, individual characteristics, personal experiences and mental health during the pandemic require further examination. This cross-sectional, multi-methods study examined differences in language used to describe personal experiences, and mental health, based on sleep quality during the early stages of the pandemic. N = 1745 participants (mean age 42.97 ± 14.46 years) from 63 countries responded to the survey. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and mental health was examined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale and the UCLA-Loneliness Scale. Quantitative analysis of qualitative, language content of personal experiences was conducted using free-text responses and comments to a question on the survey. Almost 50% of the participants reported poor sleep quality, which was linked to a more negative emotional tone and greater mentions of money or finance related words. Good sleepers reported more positive emotional tone in their experiences. Greater reports of clinical state anxiety, moderate depression and moderate stress were observed in poor sleepers, even after accounting for demographics and pandemic-related factors such as loneliness, financial concerns and risk of contracting COVID-19 disease. Results from this study highlight an urgent need for sleep-related public health interventions. Practitioner education, sleep screening for those with mental health conditions, and encouraging people to adopt digital tools may help to reduce the burden of poor sleep on mental health. While the pandemic itself is a stressful and uncertain time, improving sleep can support positive emotion regulation, improving mood and consequential action.

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“…Moreover, negative coping strategies such as self-blame, venting, behavioural disengagement and self-distraction were linked to poorer mental health (Gurvich et al, 2020). Varma et al (2021) found factors that negatively impacted successful coping were poor sleep, lower resilience and loneliness. They also report that younger age groups are particularly vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and depression and need more support.…”

Section: Coping With the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Women reported more socially supportive relationships prior to lockdown (Bu et al, 2020) making it possible that the sense of isolation was more acute when this support was less accessible. Loneliness was also reported to be a risk factor which negatively impacted coping (Varma et al, 2021).…”

Section: Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating the Same Storm but Not in the Same Boat: Mental Health Vulnerability and Coping in Women University Students During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in the UK

Misca

Thornton

2021

Front. Psychol.

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Having a mental health diagnosis in both general and student populations has been found to be a risk factor for negative coping and increased psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on a subset of data from a large contemporaneous research study, this report explores the experiences of 36 women students with and without reported pre-existing mental health diagnoses during the first UK lockdown, in spring 2020. Specifically, the data explored self-reported coping with the restrictions, with the abrupt move to online learning, and the loss of support; as well as students' perceived strengths and difficulties in balancing their student role with family roles such as being a partner and/or a parent. Students with a pre-existing mental health diagnosis reported higher levels of loneliness compared to a matched sample of non-students, and more avoidant coping and negative emotional coping than students without a diagnosis. Qualitative data illustrate how parenting intersects with well-being and stress as both a protective and risk factor for women university students. This research report adds to the evidence base on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the student population, and how pre-existing mental health diagnoses intersect with coping behaviours and vulnerability in women students. Exploration of potential vulnerabilities can provide opportunities for targeted support, and identifying effective coping has the potential to inform effective interventions.

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Younger people are more vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A global cross-sectional survey

Cited by 547 publications

References 43 publications

Impacts on Children and Adolescents’ Lifestyle, Social Support and Their Association with Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Impacts on Children and Adolescents’ Lifestyle, Social Support and Their Association with Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Poor Sleep Quality and Its Relationship with Individual Characteristics, Personal Experiences and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Navigating the Same Storm but Not in the Same Boat: Mental Health Vulnerability and Coping in Women University Students During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in the UK

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