Published online Nov 19, 2022. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i11.1323
Peer-review started: August 1, 2022
First decision: September 4, 2022
Revised: September 16, 2022
Accepted: October 14, 2022
Article in press: October 14, 2022
Published online: November 19, 2022
Processing time: 108 Days and 5.1 Hours
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant challenges for adolescent mental health.
To survey adolescent students in China to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health.
A multicenter cross-sectional comparative investigation was conducted in March 2022. We collected demographic information and survey data related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener scales were used for objective assessment of depression and anxiety.
We collected mental health questionnaires from 3184 students. The investigation demonstrated that adolescents most strongly agreed with the following items: Increased time spent with parents, interference with academic performance, and less travel. Conversely, adolescents most strongly disagreed with the following items: Not having to go to school, feeling an increase in homework, and not socializing with people; 34.6% of adolescents were depressed before COVID-19, of which 1.9% were severely depressed. After COVID-19, 26.3% of adolescents were prone to depression, of which 1.4% were severely depressed. 24.4% of adolescents had anxiety before COVID-19, with severe anxiety accounting for 1.6%. After COVID-19, 23.5% of adolescents were prone to anxiety, of which 1.7% had severe anxiety.
Chinese adolescents in different grades exhibited different psychological characteristics, and their levels of anxiety and depression were improved after the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in educational management practices since the COVID-19 pandemic may be worth learning from and optimizing in long-term educational planning.
Core Tip: Our investigation found that the Chinese adolescents have different psychological characteristics at different grades, and their levels of anxiety and depression have improved since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The partial educational management practices that have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic may be worth learning from and optimizing long-term educational planning.