Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Edinburgh Law School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
PLoS One. 2022 Apr 27;17(4):e0266818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266818. eCollection 2022.
Increasing evidence has shown that the Covid-19 outbreak, and subsequent school closures and exam cancellations that followed, has impacted adolescent mental health. The current cross-sectional study examined rates of depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms about Covid-19 in adolescents and whether current or past mental health support, additional support in school, keyworker status, poorer household relationships since the outbreak of Covid-19 or reduced physical activity were associated with elevated levels of depression, anxiety or PTSD-like symptoms. Lastly, it examined perceived changes in mental health due to the Covid-19 pandemic, school closures and the cancellation of exams. A total of 899 adolescents (14-18 years) took part in the 'in isolation instead of in school' (INISS) project. Findings indicated that older adolescents, females, those who currently or previously received mental health support or additional support in school and adolescents who reported poorer relationships at home since Covid-19 were more likely to meet clinical threshold levels for their mental health. Adolescents highlighted worsening of their mental health due to Covid-19 and school closures with mixed positive and negative impact of exam cancellations. Adolescents experiencing clinical threshold levels of depression and anxiety uniquely reported worsening of their mental health since the Covid-19 pandemic, school closures and exam cancellations. Understanding the rates, perceptions and factors associated with increases in depression, anxiety and PTSD-like symptoms in adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic will inform national policy in supporting adolescent mental health and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
越来越多的证据表明，新冠疫情爆发以及随后的学校关闭和考试取消，对青少年的心理健康产生了影响。本横断面研究调查了新冠疫情期间青少年中抑郁、焦虑和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）样症状的发生率，以及当前或过去的心理健康支持、学校额外支持、关键工作者身份、新冠疫情爆发以来家庭关系恶化或体力活动减少是否与抑郁、焦虑或 PTSD 样症状水平升高有关。最后，它还调查了由于新冠疫情、学校关闭和考试取消而导致的青少年心理健康的变化。共有 899 名青少年（14-18 岁）参加了“隔离而不是在校”（INISS）项目。研究结果表明，年龄较大的青少年、女性、目前或以前接受过心理健康支持或学校额外支持的青少年以及报告新冠疫情以来家庭关系恶化的青少年，更有可能达到心理健康的临床阈值水平。青少年强调由于新冠疫情和学校关闭导致他们的心理健康恶化，而考试取消则产生了混合的积极和消极影响。经历临床抑郁和焦虑阈值水平的青少年则特别报告称，自新冠疫情、学校关闭和考试取消以来，他们的心理健康状况恶化。了解新冠疫情期间青少年中抑郁、焦虑和 PTSD 样症状的发生率、认知和相关因素，将为支持青少年心理健康和从新冠疫情中恢复提供国家政策依据。
