Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorMartinsen, Kristin
dc.contributor.authorLisøy, Carina
dc.contributor.authorWentzel-Larsen, Tore
dc.contributor.authorNeumer, Simon-Peter
dc.contributor.authorRasmussen, Lene-Mari Potulski
dc.contributor.authorAdolfsen, Frode
dc.contributor.authorSund, Anne Mari
dc.contributor.authorIngul, Jo Magne
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-10T07:20:27Z
dc.date.available2024-09-10T07:20:27Z
dc.date.issued2024-01-05
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the daily routines of children, with social distancing and quarantine leading to reduced social interactions and potential increased conflicts within families. These factors can increase the risk for anxiety and depression while reducing overall quality of life. <p><p>Methods: Our study included 1843 school children aged 8 to 12 from 56 schools over a 2.5-year period before and during the pandemic. This multi-wave cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from an optimization trial of an indicated preventive intervention. The main outcomes were self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life was the secondary outcome measure. Furthermore, responses to COVID-relevant questions were measured using a self-composed scale. Our objectives were to compare anxiety and depression symptom levels between cohorts of children who participated in the study before and during the pandemic, to examine if anxiety or depression predicted the COVID response, and whether anxiety and depression and subtypes of anxiety had an impact on quality of life during the pandemic. Linear regression and interaction models were used to examine relevant associations. <p>Results: Levels of anxiety and depression were higher in all waves compared to pre-pandemic levels. Quality of life was lower during the pandemic than before the pandemic, particularly among children with generalized anxiety symptoms. Quality of life was negatively associated with loneliness. <p>Discussion: Our study revealed that children reported higher anxious and depressive symptoms during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels, as well as reduced quality of life. Lockdowns and restrictions may have contributed to this burden. Additionally, self-reported loneliness was a significant possible consequence of the restrictive measures imposed on children during the pandemic. Additional research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of the pandemic on children, particularly regarding the stability of elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Such studies could examine whether these conditions are indicative of a trajectory toward more severe internalizing disorders.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMartinsen, Lisøy, Wentzel-Larsen, Neumer, Rasmussen, Adolfsen, Sund, Ingul. School children’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology. 2024;14en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 2221361
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1290358
dc.identifier.issn1664-1078
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/34635
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherFrontiers Mediaen_US
dc.relation.journalFrontiers in Psychology
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2024 The Author(s)en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_US
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)en_US
dc.titleSchool children’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemicen_US
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


File(s) in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following collection(s)

Show simple item record

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)