Differing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health: combined population and clinical study - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue BJPsych Open Année : 2023

Differing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health: combined population and clinical study

Lu Qi
Lauren Robinson
Rüdiger Brühl
  • Fonction : Auteur
Antoine Grigis
  • Fonction : Auteur
Frauke Nees
  • Fonction : Auteur
Betteke Maria van Noort
  • Fonction : Auteur
Luise Poustka
  • Fonction : Auteur
Julia Sinclair
M. John Broulidakis
  • Fonction : Auteur

Résumé

Background Identifying youths most at risk to COVID-19-related mental illness is essential for the development of effective targeted interventions. Aims To compare trajectories of mental health throughout the pandemic in youth with and without prior mental illness and identify those most at risk of COVID-19-related mental illness. Method Data were collected from individuals aged 18–26 years ( N = 669) from two existing cohorts: IMAGEN, a population-based cohort; and ESTRA/STRATIFY, clinical cohorts of individuals with pre-existing diagnoses of mental disorders. Repeated COVID-19 surveys and standardised mental health assessments were used to compare trajectories of mental health symptoms from before the pandemic through to the second lockdown. Results Mental health trajectories differed significantly between cohorts. In the population cohort, depression and eating disorder symptoms increased by 33.9% (95% CI 31.78–36.57) and 15.6% (95% CI 15.39–15.68) during the pandemic, respectively. By contrast, these remained high over time in the clinical cohort. Conversely, trajectories of alcohol misuse were similar in both cohorts, decreasing continuously (a 15.2% decrease) during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic symptom severity predicted the observed mental health trajectories in the population cohort. Surprisingly, being relatively healthy predicted increases in depression and eating disorder symptoms and in body mass index. By contrast, those initially at higher risk for depression or eating disorders reported a lasting decrease. Conclusions Healthier young people may be at greater risk of developing depressive or eating disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted mental health interventions considering prior diagnostic risk may be warranted to help young people cope with the challenges of psychosocial stress and reduce the associated healthcare burden.

Dates et versions

hal-04471127 , version 1 (21-02-2024)

Identifiants

Citer

Lu Qi, Zuo Zhang, Lauren Robinson, Marina Bobou, Chantal Gourlan, et al.. Differing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health: combined population and clinical study. BJPsych Open, 2023, 9 (6), pp.e217. ⟨10.1192/bjo.2023.601⟩. ⟨hal-04471127⟩
0 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More