Life Changes and Mental Health in Adolescents During COVID-19

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the mental health of children and adolescents in China through cross-sectional, longitudinal, and clustering studies.

Research Overview

This research project investigates how life changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of Chinese children and adolescents. By combining cross-sectional, longitudinal, and clustering methods, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of depressive and anxiety symptoms before, during, and after the lockdown.

Key Highlights

Study Design

  • Analyzed survey data from 7,829 students (Grades 1–9) across three waves (Dec 2019 – Jul 2021).
  • Combined cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches to assess short- and long-term mental health effects.
  • Conducted clustering analysis to identify distinct patterns of life changes (e.g., social, lifestyle, and family financial dimensions).
Flow chart of study design.

Methods

  • Data Collection: Surveys included measures for:
    • Life changes (e.g., social activities, diet, screen time, and financial stability).
    • Mental health symptoms using the CES-D (depression) and SCARED (anxiety) scales.
  • Statistical Analysis:
    • Logistic regression models to determine associations.
    • Clustering using Gower’s distance for multidimensional life change patterns.

Findings

  • Mental Health Trends: The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms slightly decreased overall during the pandemic, but:
    • Negative impacts on study, social, and outdoor activities, as well as dietary changes, correlated with increased mental health risks.
    • Severe family income declines showed a sustained impact on depressive symptoms.
  • Clustering Patterns: Identified four distinct groups based on life change patterns:
    • Stable
    • Severe financial impact
    • Severe social impact
    • Moderate social impact
Flow chart of study design.

The findings highlight the profound psychological effects of pandemic restrictions on youth and emphasize the need for:

  • Tailored interventions targeting children and adolescents in similar public health crises.
  • Policies addressing financial vulnerabilities and promoting stable social and lifestyle routines for better mental health outcomes.

Publications

This project led to the following publication:
Zeng, Y., Song, J., Guo, X., et al. (2024). Life changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Chinese children and adolescents before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: A combination of cross-sectional, longitudinal, and clustering studies. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry