Risks and Resources for Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Results of the Longitudinal COPSY Study

• Published in: Frontiers in psychiatry Vol. 13; p. 901783
• Main Authors: Güzelsoy, Neslihan, Ravens-Sieberer, Ulrike, Westenhöfer, Joachim, Devine, Janine, Erhart, Michael, Hölling, Heike, Kaman, Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 07.07.2022
• Subjects: children and adolescents; COVID-19; mental health; Psychiatry; resource factors; risk factors; COVID-19; children and adolescents; risk factors; resource factors; mental health
• ISSN: 1664-0640; 1664-0640
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.901783

Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic is of particularly high relevance. Especially for children and adolescents, the pandemic and its restrictions represent a significant burden. The present study aims to identify risks and resources for depressive symptoms and anxiety in children and adolescents during the pandemic in Germany. Self-reported data from the first wave of the longitudinal COVID-19 and Psychological Health (COPSY) study were used to investigate risks and resources among = 811 children and adolescents aged 11-17 years. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were measured at the first follow-up 6 months later. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the effects of risks and resources on depressive symptoms and anxiety. Parental depressive symptoms predicted depressive symptoms and anxiety in children and adolescents 6 months later. Female gender was identified as a risk factor for anxiety during the pandemic. None of the potential resources were associated with depressive symptoms or anxiety at the follow-up. The findings provide evidence of risk factors for depressive symptoms and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and adolescents who face risk factors need to be identified early and monitored during the pandemic. Family-based intervention programs are needed to help vulnerable children and adolescents cope with the challenges of the pandemic.