Adolescent Mental Health, Social Support, and Uncertainty During COVID-19: Moderating Roles of Engagement and Perseverance

• In Event: Staff and Systems Involved in Supporting Student Mental Health

Abstract

Objective: Recent research on COVID-19 suggests that adolescents are likely experiencing elevated rates of anxiety and depression (Liang et al., 2020). Although evidence has been mixed, some results have indicated that social support (e.g., family and friends) is a protective factor for youth during the COVID-19 pandemic (Liang et al., 2020) and other times of uncertainty (White et al., 2005). Given the nature of social distancing and uncertainty during the pandemic, understanding the association of uncertainty related to COVID-19, social support, and psychological outcomes among youth is particularly important. Furthermore, researchers have identified strengths, such as the ability to engage socially and perseverance towards goals despite challenges (Kern, Benson, Steinberg, & Steinberg, 2016), as factors which can facilitate the likelihood that youth can find and receive social support during community crises, thereby decreasing their anxiety and depression (Grills, Littleton, & Axsom, 2010). Therefore, we hypothesized that uncertainty about COVID-19 would be positively associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas social support would be protective against anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further, we hypothesize that engagement (e.g., involved in an activity or ‘flow’) and perseverance (e.g., pursue a goal despite challenges) will moderate the association between uncertainty/social support, and symptoms of depression/anxiety.

Methods: A sample of 390 adolescents completed an online questionnaire concerning experiences of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic (female = 235, male = 150, gender diverse = 5). Participants completed measures of symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, GAD-2; Kroenke et al., 2007) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-2; Lowe et al., 2005), character strengths (e.g., engagement and perseverance; EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-Being, Kern et al., 2016), social support (NIH Toolbox; Paolillo, 2020), and uncertainty concerning COVID-19 (COVID-19 Adolescent Symptom & Psychological Experience Questionnaire; Ladouceur, 2020).

Results: The results of this study indicate that engagement moderates the relationship between social support and anxiety (b = -0.83, 95% CI [-0.105, -0.022], t = -3.03, p = .003), as well as the relationship between social support and depression (b = -0.83, 95% CI [-0.092, -0.263], t = -3.53, p = .0005). Perseverance moderates the relationship between adolescent’s experience of uncertainty and depression (b = -0.93, 95% CI [0.440, 0.734], t = 7.86, p = .000) and anxiety (b = -0.92, 95% CI [0.754, 1.096], t = 10.63, p = .000).

Significance: These findings suggest that engagement affects the association between social support and anxiety. In addition, perseverance affects the association between uncertainty about COVID-19 and both anxiety and depression. Taken together, these findings suggest that individual strengths may reinforce coping in adolescents with stress related to (a) uncertainty about COVID-19 and (b) decreased social support, contributing to lower levels of depression and anxiety. Recommendations for educators will be discussed, including potential ways to facilitate the development of engagement and perseverance in adolescents to attenuate mental health risk factors associated with COVID-19.
 

Authors

• Rachael Donalds, Boston University

• Katie Carey, Boston University

• Melissa K. Holt, Boston University

• Shari Kessel Schneider, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Jennifer Greif Green, Boston University