Supervisors info:
Κολαΐτης Γεράσιμος, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Γιαννακόπουλος Γεώργιος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Τζαβάρα Χαρίκλεια, Διδάκτωρ, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Background: Covid-19 pandemic constituted a severe public health crisis that has had
serious psychosocial consequences on adolescents, which is highlighted by the increase
in seeking help from a mental health professional right after covid-19 outbreak. Aim:
To evaluate the prevalence of psychosocial challenges and the impact of covid-19
pandemic on adolescents’ emotional, conduct problems and on the rates of seeking help
from a mental health professional. Methods: This study was conducted as part of the
multinational study «Psychosocial problems of 13-16 year-olds before and during the
recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic» of Child and Adolescents Mental Health
Study (GCAMHS) network, with the participation of 5.711 junior high school students
(with a mean age of 13,4 years old). The survey included the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale-8 (CRIES-8).
Results: There is an increasing trend in emotional problems (from Μ=2,06, SD=2,04
to Μ=3,32, SD=2,65), conduct problems (from Μ=2,27, SD=1,63 to Μ=3,60, SD=1,84),
hyperactivity/inattention symptoms (from Μ=2,89, SD=2,05 to Μ=4,07, SD=2,43),
peer relationship problems (from Μ=1,44, SD=1,51 to Μ=1,93, SD=1,72) and in
seeking help from a mental health professional,12,9%, comparing to data before covid
19 pandemic, 4,3%, 15% and 28,2% of the participants had abnormal scores on
emotional and conduct problems respectively. Gender, age, area of residence, physical
health problems, single-parent families, interfamilial conflicts and the stressful
experiences of covid-19 had, to a certain extent, an impact on adolescents’ psychosocial
challenges, Adjusted R2=,26 F(16,5306)=117,95, p<,001. Conclusions: It is of great
importance that this subject be longitudinally studied with the aim of designing
strategies to prevent and cope with the adverse effects of a public health crisis especially
on adolescents who are most at risk.
