The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baumler E ; Gulliot-Wright S ; Temple JR ; Thiel M ; Torres E ; Wood L
• Description:
  Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine whether COVID-19-induced financial impact, stress, loneliness, and isolation were related to perceived changes in adolescent mental health and substance use. Methods: Data were from Baseline (2018) and Wave 3 (2020; mean age = 14.8; 50% female) of 1,188 adolescents recruited from 12 Texas public middle schools as part of a randomized controlled trial. Participants were primarily Black (23%), Latinx (41%), Asian (11%), and White (9%). We assessed mental health and substance use (Baseline and Wave 3) and pandemic-related physical interaction, loneliness, stress, family conflict, and economic situation (Wave 3). Results: COVID-19-induced stress and loneliness were linked to depression (beta = 0.074, p≤.001; beta = 0.132, p ≤ 001) and anxiety (beta = 0.061, p = .001; beta = 0.088, p ≤.001) among ethnically diverse adolescents. Adolescents who did not limit their physical interactions due to COVID-19 had fewer symptoms of depression (beta = -0.036, p = .03); additionally, adolescents who did not restrict their socializing were substantially more likely to report using a variety of substances (e.g., for episodic heavy drinking; odds ratio = 1.81, p = .001). Increased use of a food bank was linked to depression (beta = 0.063, ≤.001) and a negative change in financial situation was linked to increased alcohol use (odds ratio = 0.70, p = .04) among adolescents. Discussion: After controlling for prepandemic psychopathology and race/ethnicity, COVID-19 induced isolation, loneliness, stress, and economic challenges were linked to poor mental health and substance misuse. Substantial structural, community, school, and individual level resources are needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent psychosocial health. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Communicable Diseases Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Adolescents Author Keywords: Adolescents COVID-19 Mental Health Psychological Effects Psychosocial Factors Stress Substance Use
• ISSN:
  1054-139X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  277-284
• Volume:
  71
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069952
• Citation:
  J Adolesc Health 2022 Sep; 71(3):277-284
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeff R. Temple, Ph.D., Center for Violence Prevention, UTMB Health, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550-0587
• Email:
  jetemple@utmb.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Adolescent Health
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f0523aa0ffafc31f15d1631dbd511dacb38400afa27fa4c265d8fe73e4b9285ae9ca6bdd8876cbd7e3ea894b8f7b122601839d045440ec1e271a2ab04e7dc903
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208270/cdc_208270_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 377.34 KB ]