Mental Health and Related Factors of Adolescent Students During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Abstract

Objective

Adolescents are at a special stage of physical and mental development, which is a susceptible period for mental disorders. Since the outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia in December 2019, long term stress may have negative effects on the mental health of the adolescents. In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the study was designed to investigate the mental and psychological health of adolescents in China and its possible related factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was adopted using a structured questionnaire which were distributed through the Internet to measure depression, anxiety, life events and stress related factors. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were conducted to process the data.

Results

The final sample comprised 795 adolescents. The total detection rate of depression was 76.48% and the total detection rate of anxiety was 33.08%. ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in depression scores in terms of gender, anxiety scores, history of mental disorders, COVID-19 knowledge reserve, family and social contradictions (p<0.05). And there were significant differences in anxiety scores in terms of gender, depression scores, mental health knowledge reserves, family and social contradictions (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that anxiety score, health status and COVID-19 knowledge reserve were positively associated with depression score (p<0.01), and history of psychosocial disorders was negatively associated with depression score (p<0.05); depression score, family and social contradictions were significantly positively correlated with anxiety score (p<0.01), and history of mental disorders was significantly negatively correlated with SDS score (p<0.01).

Conclusion

During the outbreak of COVID-19, adolescent students with better understanding of the pandemic, more complete knowledge of mental health, and better family and social relationship had less impact on their mental health. Therefore, to ensure a sound social support system, elaborate health instruction, and family communication and mutual understanding are conducive to alleviating the psychological stress caused by the epidemic, and it is positive for adolescent students to maintain a good mental health.