Promoting youth mental health during COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study spanning pre- and post-pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced many novel stressors into the lives of youth. Identifying factors that protect against the onset of psychopathology in the face of these pandemic-related stressors is critical. We examine a wide range of factors that may protect youth from developing psychopathology during the pandemic. We assessed pandemic-related stressors, internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, and potentially protective factors in a longitudinal sample of children and adolescents (N=224, 7-15 years) assessed prior to the pandemic, during the stay-at-home orders, and six months later. We evaluate how family behaviors during the stay-at-home orders are related to changes in psychopathology relative to the assessment prior to the pandemic, identify factors that moderate the association of pandemic-related stressors with psychopathology, and determine whether these associations vary by age. Higher exposure to pandemic-related stressors was associated with increases in both internalizing and externalizing symptoms and this association persisted six months later. Greater engagement in exercise, a structured routine, greater time spent in nature, and less screen time, were associated with reduced internalizing and externalizing problems. The association between pandemic-related stressors and increases in psychopathology was significantly lower for youths with limited passive screen time, and marginally so for those with more time outdoors. The strong association between pandemic-related stressors and internalizing symptoms was absent among children, but not adolescents, with lower news media consumption related to the pandemic both concurrently and prospectively. We provide insight into simple and practical steps that families can take that may promote resilience against mental health problems in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and protect against psychopathology following pandemic-related stressors.