Giving vs Receiving COVID-19 Assistance: Associations between Adolescents’ Prosocial Experiences and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Helping out while staying in: Prosocial responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. Although natural disasters can produce many negative social, economic, and health consequences for youth, natural disasters also provide opportunities for youth to help—and be helped by—others in their community. Engaging in prosocial action either as an actor or recipient in response to a collective crisis is theorized to facilitate coping and healing (Bokszczanin, 2012). As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, it is important to understand the psychological implications of prosocial responses to the pandemic, which may be related to mental health symptoms during adolescence when youth are at risk for developing psychiatric disorders. We examined youths’ prosocial experiences as both actors and recipients during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed whether these experiences were associated with their mental health (depressive, anxiety symptoms, burdensomeness, and belonging).
Methods. Adolescents (N = 437; 78% female; 63.6% White, 12.9% Hispanic/Latinx, 8.5% Asian, 4.2% Black, 2.8% Native American) aged 13 to 20 years (Mage = 16.43, SD = 1.10) were recruited across the United States using social media in April 2020. A quantitative measure of COVID-19 prosocial experiences was developed based on free-response data collected from an independent sample of youth who were asked to describe their most significant experiences helping others and being helped because of COVID-19. Eight items assessed how often participants engaged in COVID-19 prosocial acts in the past 7 days (α = .71) and four items assessed how often participants received help from others because of COVID-19 in the past 7 days (α = .56). Responses were given on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very often). Example item includes: In the past 7 days, how often have you have given money, food, or household supplies to people who are struggling because of COVID-19? Youth also reported on their depressive symptoms (α = .93), anxiety symptoms (α = .04), burdensomeness (α = .65), and belongingness (α = .82).
Results. The percentage of adolescents who reported at least some engagement in COVID-19 prosocial acts ranged from 23—90% across items assessing helping others and 31—78% across items assessing receiving help. Multiple regression models indicated greater engagement in COVID-19 prosocial acts aimed at helping others was associated with greater anxiety symptoms and burdensomeness (Figure 1). In contrast, receiving more COVID-19 help was associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher belongingness (Figure 2). Analyses accounted for youth demographic characteristics including age, gender, race, ethnicity, parents’ education, family financial strain, as well as a sum indicator of negative COVID-19 experiences.
Conclusion. Findings demonstrate important nuance in connections between pandemic-related prosocial experiences and adolescent mental health, with youth showing better mental health as they receive more help and showing worse mental health symptoms as they provide more help to others. These finding suggest prosocial acts during a collective crisis may not be universally beneficial for youth, which highlights the importance of furthering our understanding of these connections in adolescence to help inform post-pandemic recovery and relief efforts.

Authors

• Lauren Alvis, The Hackett Center for Mental Health
  Presenting Author

• Robyn Douglas, University of Houston
  Non-Presenting Author

• Natalie Shook, University of Connecticut
  Non-Presenting Author

• Benjamin Oosterhoff, West Virginia University
  Non-Presenting Author