Social factors associated with self-reported changes in mental health symptoms among youth in the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

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dc.contributor.authorMoss, Stephana J.
dc.contributor.authorStelfox, Maia
dc.contributor.authorMcArthur, Eric
dc.contributor.authorSriskandarajah, Cynthia
dc.contributor.authorAhmed, Sofia B.
dc.contributor.authorBirnie, Kathryn
dc.contributor.authorHalperin, Donna M.
dc.contributor.authorHalperin, Scott A.
dc.contributor.authorHarley, Micaela
dc.contributor.authorHu, Jia
dc.contributor.authorKamstra, Josh N.
dc.contributor.authorLeppan, Laura
dc.contributor.authorNickel, Angie
dc.contributor.authorRacine, Nicole
dc.contributor.authorRussell, Kristine
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Stacie
dc.contributor.authorSolis, May
dc.contributor.authorTutelman, Perri R.
dc.contributor.authorStelfox, Henry T.
dc.contributor.authorFiest, Kirsten M.
dc.contributor.authorParsons Leigh, Jeanna
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-03T02:03:21Z
dc.date.available2024-03-03T02:03:21Z
dc.date.issued2024-02-28
dc.date.updated2024-03-03T02:03:21Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background Children and youth experienced marked impacts on day-to-day life in the COVID-19 pandemic that were associated with poorer familial and friend relationships, and greater mental health challenges. Few studies provide self-report data on mental health symptoms from children and youth themselves. We sought to examine the associations between social factors and child and youth self-reported symptoms of worsened mood, anxiety, and irritability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was administered online to collect self-report data across 10 Canadian provinces among children (11–14 years) and youth (15–18 years), April–May 2022. Age-appropriate questions were based on The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and the World Health Organization of the United Nations H6 + Technical Working Group on Adolescent Health and Well-Being consensus framework and the Coronavirus Health and Impact Survey. Associations between a priori defined social factors (e.g., relationship quality) and respondent self-reported mental health were evaluated using ordinal logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and geographic location. Results We analyzed data from 483 (51.7%) children (11–14 years; 227, 47.0% girls) and 450 (48.3%) youth (15–18 years; 204, 45.3% girls). The parents of most children and youth had resided in Canada for over 20 years (678, 72.7%). Over one-quarter of children and youth self-identified as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (134, 27.7%; 134, 29.8%, respectively). Over one-third of children and youth self-reported symptoms of worsened mood (149, 30.9%; 125, 27.8%, respectively), anxiety (181, 37.5%; 167, 37.1%, respectively), or irritability (160, 33.1%; 160, 35.6%, respectively) during, compared to pre-pandemic. In descending order of odds ratios (OR), for children and youth, worsened familial relationships (during compared to pre-pandemic) was associated with the self-reported symptoms of worsened mood (child: OR 4.22, 95%CI 2.51–6.88; youth: OR 6.65 95%CI 3.98–11.23), anxiety (child: OR 4.24, 95%CI2.69–6.75; youth: OR 5.28, 95%CI 3.17–8.86), and irritability (child: OR 2.83, 95%CI 1.76–4.56; youth: OR 6.46, 95%CI 3.88–10.90). Conclusions Self-reported data from a nationally representative sample of children and youth suggest strong associations between social factors and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions targeting child and youth familial relationships may positively impact child and youth mental health.
dc.identifier.citationBMC Public Health. 2024 Feb 28;24(1):631
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18087-8
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/118240
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/43083
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.rights.holderThe Author(s)
dc.titleSocial factors associated with self-reported changes in mental health symptoms among youth in the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey
dc.typeJournal Article
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