Covid-19 Pandemic Effects on Anxiety Development in Adolescents

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Topic - Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Abstract

Pandemics and natural disasters are unique opportunities for researchers to learn about risk and resilience in development (Masten & Obradovic, 2008). In particular, these types of events impact not only individual children but the larger and interconnected systems in which children develop (Bronfenbrenner, 1986; Masten & Obradovic, 2008), impacting academic, social, and economic sources of support. Indeed, during the Covid-19 pandemic, adolescents have been exposed to a variety of challenges including illness/death of loved ones, loss of job/income, health disparities, and increased violence exposure. In addition, adolescents’ opportunity for face-to-face interactions with peers are limited, and the potential impacts of this relative isolation on their mental health is still unknown. Clues from the extant literature show that social network disruption has been associated with increased internalizing symptoms in the wake of traumatic events (e.g., Hall et al., 2014, 2015; Fredman et al., 2010; Morris & Deterding, 2016). Because peers take on a heightened significance in adolescence (Brown & Larsen, 2009; Rubin, Bowker & Gazelle, 2010), social distancing is likely especially difficult for teens.

Specific characteristics of both individual adolescents and their immediate environments may place some at greater risk for experiencing mental health problems during this pandemic than others. Children who are temperamentally fearful are at increased risk for developing anxiety disorders (Chronis-Tuscano et al., 2009; Buss et al., 2013). Adolescents whose families live in poverty and low-resourced communities are also at higher risk for poor socioemotional outcomes (Leventhal & Brooks-Gunn, 2000; Evans, 2006). How the pandemic exacerbates these known risk factors in adolescents’ mental health outcomes, and identification of disparities, motivates the current study.

We track adolescent mental health monthly, using six waves of assessment, and examine impact of Covid-19 on the family (e.g., illness, changes in activities), quality of family and peer relationships, changes and challenges with (changes to) school, and stress and coping at the first assessment (Wave 1) and last assessment (Wave 6). In addition to new community recruitment, we leveraged two longitudinal samples of adolescents, both oversampled for anxiety risk, in order to expand the longitudinal questions and constructs (e.g., temperament, neurophysiology) that will inform our aims. To date, we have recruited 215 parent-adolescent (54% female, age 13-20) dyads at Wave 1. Our recruitment goal is 300 dyads and all data collection will be complete by March 2021.

Aim 1: To investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on adolescent anxiety symptoms. We predict that adolescents will report more anxiety symptoms across the 6-month assessment if their families have been directly impacted by Covid-19 (e.g., illness or death, loss of job or income).

Aim 2: To investigate individual differences that may confer increased risk or resilience to the effects of Covid-19 on adolescent anxiety symptoms.

Aim 3: To investigate environmental factors (quality of family and peer relationships, family illness/death, job loss, community/racial disparities) that may confer increased risk or resilience to the effects of Covid-19 on adolescent anxiety symptoms.

Authors

• Kristin A. Buss, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Presenting Author

• Koraly Elisa Perez-Edgar, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Venus Ricks, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna M Zhou, University of Utah
  Non-Presenting Author

• Austen Trainer, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Centia Thomas, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Tennille Hill, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Annika Kershner, Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Frances M. Lobo, University of Texas at Austin
  Non-Presenting Author

• Meghan Elizabeth McDoniel, Child Trends -Maryland
  Non-Presenting Author

• Stacey LeVan, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nora Anne Tucker, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sarah Myruski, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author