Abstract
The adolescent phase is a pivotal period that marks the emergence of mental health disorders and psychological maturation. An article published in a popular press outlet reported a substantial increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms among 80,000 adolescents globally, particularly in response to the COVID-19 lockdown measures. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of six peer-reviewed articles related to the assertions made by the press based on an extensive review of the empirical literature. The assertions made by the media were substantiated by empirical data from academic literature. The discussion identified risk factors and populations at a higher risk of experiencing adverse outcomes. The study’s unresolved inquiries and recommendations for future investigation are deliberated. The escalating prevalence of despair and anxiousness presents a discouraging pattern that endangers the essential growth of adolescents.
Introduction
In recent years, there has been a heightened emphasis on the health of adolescents, as it is increasingly acknowledged that this stage of life plays a critical role in shaping and sustaining health-related behaviors and outcomes throughout the lifespan. The period of adolescence is a crucial stage for the onset of mental health disorders, as approximately fifty percent of lifetime onset occurs by the age of fourteen (Patalay & Gage, 2019). Adolescents, who exhibit a greater susceptibility to mental health disorders than adults, may be especially prone to the unfavorable consequences of social isolation due to the disturbance of their physical activity and social engagement. The states of isolation known as quarantines and lockdowns can elicit psychological distress and unpleasantness for those who undergo them.
According to a widely circulated press article in U.S. News, evidence suggests that the incidence of mental health issues among adolescents is rising. To explore the issue at hand, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) devised a survey conducted between January and June of 2021 (Gilligan, 2022). The survey was administered to a representative sample of high school students in the United States. A prevalent trend of sustained deterioration in mental health amidst the ongoing pandemic has been identified. The prevalence of persistent sadness or hopelessness among girls in the United States was 46.6%, nearly 20 percentage points higher than that of boys (26.8%) (Gilligan, 2022). The observed disparities were significant among individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, as 66.3% of students belonging to this group reported experiencing feelings of hopelessness, in contrast to 32.2% of heterosexual students (Gilligan, 2022). The article’s primary focus is on the impact of Covid-19 lockdown measures, although it acknowledges that other factors, such as discrimination and poverty, also play a role in exacerbating the issue.
Article Descriptions
Panchal et al. (2021) sought to summarize previous research on how teen mental health was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Independent academics were responsible for data extraction and quality assessment, and findings were synthesized according to overarching themes. A total of 54,999 kids and teens were analyzed across 61 studies (Panchal et al., 2021). The included research showed that anxiety symptoms varied from 1.8 to 49.5% and depression symptoms from 2.2 to 63.8% (Panchal et al., 2021). The findings indicated that the percentage of children suffering from clinical depression rose from 10% to 27% (Panchal et al., 2021). Extensive media consumption, preexisting mental health issues, and special needs were all major risk factors for anxiety during the lockdown. This study’s findings, which corroborate those of the poll conducted for the news piece, also point to a rise in adolescent depressive symptoms. While poverty, discrimination, and sexual orientation are all mentioned by Galligan (2022), Panchal et al. (2021) point to special needs, social media, and psychiatric illnesses as contributors. In both articles, the key is attending to the mental health requirements of at-risk adolescents.
This research fills that void by exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of teenagers, identifying variables that have moderated that shift, and identifying those that have caused the most distress. In the year preceding the COVID-19 outbreak (T1), as well as two months after the introduction of government constraints and online learning (T2), 248 teenagers were questioned (Magson et al., 2021). The predicted increases in depression and anxiety and the expected decline in happiness were observed among teenagers, with the latter phenomenon especially occurred among teenage females (Magson et al., 2021). Concerns about COVID-19, problems with online learning, and greater disagreement with parents were found to be moderate predictors of mental health issues. While being socially linked and following stay-at-home directives safeguarded against mental health issues during the COVID-19 lockdown. In addition to verifying the press-article assertion, this study’s results on females’ greater mental health deterioration during lockdown corroborate those of Galligan (2022). The findings imply that teen anxiety and melancholy are caused less by the virus than by the government’s limitations.
The study by Mitchell et al. (2021) aimed to determine if young people identifying as sexual and gender minorities are more likely to be negatively affected by the current COVID-19 epidemic. Nine hundred ninety teenagers and young people between 13 and 23 participated in a survey between November 27, 2020, and December 11, 2020 (Mitchell et al., 2021). More SGM youth than non-SGM youth reported feeling affected by the epidemic. Mental health was negatively affected more for SGM youth and cisgender straight females than cisgender heterosexual males, with the greatest effect being felt by cisgender sexual minority females and gender minority adolescents (Mitchell et al., 2021). Young people who identify as members of a gender minority also said they felt isolated from their relatives and unsafe in their homes due to the epidemic. This study’s results that LGBTQ youth report greater rates of depression than their heterosexual counterparts, with a focus on females, are consistent with those of Galligan (2022). Findings suggest that LGBTQ adolescents are disproportionately at risk of experiencing negative mental health effects due to the epidemic because their specific needs are unmet.
The study conducted by Ermis-Demirtas et al. (2022) examines the correlation between COVID-19-associated discrimination (CAD) experienced by East and Southeast Asian American (ESEAA) school students in online and in-person settings and their mental health outcomes. The results indicated that students who had encountered discrimination in virtual and physical environments exhibited elevated anxiety and depression, surpassing the impact of traumatic incidents and discrimination they had encountered throughout their lives (n=114) (Ermis-Demirtas et al., 2022). The present research indicates that young individuals from ESEAA backgrounds are exposed to both direct and indirect forms of aggression and discrimination. Subsequently, it is imperative to address the distinct difficulties faced by students who experience racial discrimination concerning COVID-19 and the subsequent impact on their mental well-being. The study’s results support Galligan’s (2022) assertion that racial discrimination contributes to adolescent mental health problems.
De Oliveira et al. (2022) investigate how the public health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic affected the mental health of adolescents. Research on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak that was conducted as an observational study was included. The data were gathered, and the risk of bias for each included study was determined by four writers working separately. Following the final round of selection, they were down to 19 studies (De Oliveira et al., 2022). Anxiety ranged from 17.6% to 43.7%, despair from 6.3% to 71.5%, and tension from 7% to 25% of people exhibiting emotional symptoms and behavioral alterations (De Oliveira et al., 2022). They also looked at secondary effects like the rate of adolescents who have PTSD (85.5%) and the rate of thoughts of suicide (29.7%-31.3%) (De Oliveira et al., 2022). According to the results, there appeared to be an upward trend in cases of mental illness. The paper is relevant to Galligan’s (2022) assertions because it supports his hypothesis that the worrying trend impacts teenagers.
The emotional and physical health of teenagers during the COVID-19 epidemic is investigated by Ravens-Sieberer et al. (2022), who also identify those at risk. They conducted a population-based survey in three waves: May-June 2020 (Wave 1), December-January 2021 (Wave 2), and September-October 2021 (Wave 3). N = 2,097 children and adolescents aged 7-17 had their lives investigated using mental health measures (Ravens-Sieberer et al., 2022). Poor parental schooling, living conditions that limit freedom of movement, a family’s experience of migration, and parental mental health problems all contributed to a heightened risk of mental health impairments among a subset of teenagers. Results from this study corroborate the central argument made by Galligan (2022) and add new groups and causes of vulnerability among adolescents.
Unanswered Questions and Directions for Future Research
The current discourse was deficient in examining coping mechanisms that adolescents utilize and their resilience in the context of post-disaster mental health and their interrelation with broader developmental outcomes. Furthermore, the research scope was limited and did not encompass all vulnerable adolescent populations, including those with disabilities, homeless individuals, and those in foster care. It is essential to conduct an inquiry into all vulnerable groups to establish a precise understanding of preventive measures and policies and a detailed comprehension of special requirements. Evaluating the correlation between the availability of mental health services, community support, and adolescents’ mental health could yield significant insights and guidance. Based on the results, broadening the inquiry and examining the corresponding factors, including teenage substance misuse, sleep patterns, bodily contentment, and physical exercise, would be advantageous. Specifically, this pertains to predicting these factors in light of concerning patterns in mental health and their association with the developmental process of adolescents.
Conclusion
This paper extensively reviewed empirical peer-reviewed literature on adolescent mental health development. Following a rigorous selection process, six articles were identified for in-depth analysis. In general, the assertions presented in the article published in U.S. News were substantiated by empirical data derived from scholarly research. The scholarly articles corroborated the initial findings and enhanced the research by incorporating risk factors, analyzing social context, and proposing preventive measures. The investigation of adolescents’ psychological well-being has emerged as a pressing theoretical and practical imperative. The increasing rates of despair and anxiety pose a pessimistic trend that jeopardizes the fundamental development of children and their capacity to perform effectively, dependably, and adaptively in novel circumstances while maintaining their activity objectives. Numerous manifestations of adolescent well-being have been identified in daily life, encompassing factors such as social engagement, sexual orientation, parental backing, and worldwide pandemics. It is widely believed that adolescence is a critical period for establishing the groundwork necessary for successful functioning in adulthood. Based on current research, it is crucial to emphasize the prioritization of promoting mental well-being.
References
De Oliveira, J. M. R., Butini, L., Pauletto, P., Lehmkuhl, K. M., Stefani, C. M., Bolan, M., Guerra, E. N. S., Dick, B. D., De Luca Canto, G., & Massignan, C. (2022). Mental health effects prevalence in children and adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A systematic review. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 19(2), 130–137. Web.
Ermis-Demirtas, H., Luo, Y., & Huang, Y. (2022). The impact of COVID-19-associated discrimination on anxiety and depression symptoms in Asian American adolescents. International Perspectives in Psychology, 11(3), 153–160. Web.
Gilligan, C. (2022). Data depicts rise in students who feel persistent despair. U.S News. Web.
Magson, N. R., Freeman, J., Rapee, R. M., Richardson, C., Oar, E. L., & Fardouly, J. (2021). Risk and protective factors for prospective changes in adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50(1), 44–57. Web.
Mitchell, K. J., Ybarra, M. L., Banyard, V. L., Goodman, K. L., & Jones, L. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceptions of health and well-being among sexual and gender minority adolescents and emerging adults. LGBT Health, 9(1), 34–42. Web.
Panchal, U., De Pablo, G. S., Franco, M., Moreno, C., Parellada, M., Arango, C., & Fusar-Poli, P. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on child and adolescent mental health: Systematic review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Web.
Patalay, P., & Gage, S. H. (2019). Changes in millennial adolescent mental health and health-related behaviours over 10 years: A population cohort comparison study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 48(5), 1650–1664. Web.
Ravens-Sieberer, U., Erhart, M., Devine, J., Gilbert, M., Reiss, F., Barkmann, C., Siegel, N. A., Simon, A. M., Hurrelmann, K., Schlack, R., Hölling, H., Wieler, L. H., & Kaman, A. (2022). Child and adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of the three-wave longitudinal COPSY study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 71(5), 570–578. Web.