Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong, PR China.
West China School of Public Health/West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
J Adolesc Health. 2021 Apr;68(4):676-682. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.011. Epub 2021 Feb 11.
This study examined the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among adolescents in mainland China under COVID-19. The direct effects of the perceived threat of COVID-19 and positive youth development (PYD) qualities, as well as the moderating effect of PYD qualities on PTSD symptoms, were studied.
Five schools in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, participated in this study. Two waves of data were collected before school lockdown (Wave 1, between December 2019 and January 2020) and after school resumption (Wave 2, between June 2020 and July 2020), respectively. A total of 4,981 adolescents aged above 11 years (Mean age = 13.15, SD = 1.32 at Wave 1, 51.5% girls) completed questionnaires at both waves. Students responded to measures of PYD qualities at both waves and perceived threat and PTSD symptoms at Wave 2.
A total of 517 adolescents (10.4%) could be regarded as having PTSD. Results indicated significant unique main effects of perceived threat (β = .13, p < .001) and Wave 1 PYD qualities (β = -.16, p < .001) on PTSD symptoms. Besides, results showed a significant moderating effect of PYD qualities in mitigating the negative impact of perceived threat on PTSD symptoms.
This study revealed the protective effect of PYD attributes in reducing the negative influence of traumatic situations such as COVID-19 on adolescent mental health. Results underscore the importance of promoting PYD qualities in adolescents in mainland China via effective PYD programs.
本研究调查了 COVID-19 下中国大陆青少年创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状的流行情况。研究了 COVID-19 感知威胁和积极青年发展（PYD）素质的直接影响，以及 PYD 素质对 PTSD 症状的调节作用。
本研究在中国四川成都的五所学校进行。分别在学校封锁前（第 1 波，2019 年 12 月至 2020 年 1 月）和学校复课后（第 2 波，2020 年 6 月至 7 月）收集了两波数据。共有 4981 名 11 岁以上的青少年（第 1 波时的平均年龄为 13.15，SD=1.32，51.5%为女生）在两波均完成了问卷。学生在两波均回答了 PYD 素质的衡量标准以及第 2 波的感知威胁和 PTSD 症状。
共有 517 名青少年（10.4%）被认为患有 PTSD。结果表明，感知威胁（β=0.13，p<0.001）和第 1 波 PYD 素质（β=-0.16，p<0.001）对 PTSD 症状有显著的独特主要影响。此外，结果显示 PYD 素质在减轻感知威胁对 PTSD 症状的负面影响方面具有显著的调节作用。
本研究揭示了 PYD 属性在减轻 COVID-19 等创伤性情境对青少年心理健康的负面影响方面的保护作用。研究结果强调了通过有效的 PYD 计划在中国内地促进 PYD 素质对青少年的重要性。
