Adolescent Coping During COVID-19: The Role of Close Relationships

• In Event: Longitudinal Peer and Family Relationships Impact on Adolescent Mood During COVID-19

Abstract

Research on the effects of previous pandemics, such as H1N1, reveal that adolescents are negatively impacted by stressors and changes resulting from the pandemic (Murray, 2009). These negative outcomes include increased anxiety, depression, mood swings, anger, and involvement in risky and maladaptive coping behaviors (Murray, 2009). This is particularly concerning given that many behavioral and mood disorders also first emerge during adolescence (Kessler et al., 2005; Merikangas et al., 2010). Therefore, the combination of typical stressors with the additional stressors of COVID-19 (including significant changes in their daily lives), may interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities (biological or environmental) to produce even higher levels of stress and reduced mental health for adolescents (Alloy & Abramson, 2007). Importantly, theorists identify social support as an important aspect of the stress process (Pearlin, Menaghan, Lieberman, & Mullan, 1981). Social support serves as a key buffer against stress and the subsequent development of mental and behavioral problems in adolescence (Cheng et al., 2014; Possel et al., 2018). It does so both directly and through promoting more adaptive coping responses (Holahan et al., 1995; Calvete & Connor-Smith, 2006). During the current COVID-19 pandemic, however, adolescents’ schools and activities are closed and youth must stay at home. Such dramatic social and environmental changes mean that adolescents’ social connections with peers and non-related adults are limited, while family members became primary companions and sources of social support during this pandemic.
Utilizing previously assessed adolescent samples in both MO and FL (2017-2018), the present study assessed these same adolescents in May/June 2020 to examine changes in adolescent adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and risky behaviors), and whether relationship quality (both positive and negative) with close others (i.e., mothers, fathers, siblings, best friends, and romantic partners) buffered or exacerbated behavioral and adjustment problems. Additionally, the moderating role of COVID-19-related stressors (e.g., family financial stress, schooling difficulties) was examined.
The final sample assessed at both timepoints included 169 adolescents who were primarily White and middle class (age: 13-20 years). Youth self-reported on their relationship quality with up to 5 close others (NRI; Furman & Buhrmester, 1985), depressive symptoms (CES-D; Radloff, 1977), anxiety symptoms (RCMAS; Reynolds & Richmond, 2008), and problem behavior (Harter, 1993). Additionally, COVID-related stress was assessed as a sum score from several items of the COVID-19 Adolescent Symptom & Psychological Experience Questionnaire (CASPE; Ladouceur, 2020). Separate autoregressive path models for each close relationship were conducted (see Table 1).
In general, positive relationship quality was associated with better adjustment, but particularly protective against depressive symptoms in the case of relationships with mothers, fathers, siblings, and romantic partners. Alternatively, negative relationship quality was associated with worse adjustment (across all types), particularly for relationships with mothers and best friends. COVID-19-related stress was broadly associated with worse outcomes, but interactions with relationship quality revealed more nuanced findings. Simple slopes analyses suggest that while COVID-stress did not appear to compound the effects of negative relationship quality, it did dampen the protective features of positive relationship quality with mothers. In contrast, it amplified the protective effect of positive relationship quality with romantic partners.

Authors

• Nicole Campione-Barr, University of Missouri - Columbia
  Presenting Author

• Wendy M Rote, University of South Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sarah Killoren, University of Missouri - Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amanda Rose, University of Missouri - Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author