ERIC Number: ED628569
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 34
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Prospective Examination of Psychological Trauma among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Jasmine Lewis; Srinidhi Jayakumar; Rosanna Breaux; Melissa R. Dvorsky; Joshua M. Langberg; Stephen P. Becker
Grantee Submission
Objective: This longitudinal study investigated the predictors of and changes in psychological trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Participants included 236 adolescents (130 males; M age = 16.74 years in spring 2020; 49.6% diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; 16.1% diagnosed with an anxiety or depressive disorder) in the United States who completed online questionnaires at four timepoints (spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021). Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed that psychological trauma was highest during stay-at-home orders in spring 2020, and decreased for a majority of adolescents by the summer of 2020. However, [approximately]20% of adolescents exhibited moderate-to-clinical levels of psychological trauma at each timepoint. Four groups were identified based on the presence of psychological trauma symptoms: (1) "resilient group" (normal range across all timepoints; 60.6%), (2) "moderate fluctuating group" (moderate range at one or more timepoints; 18.2%), (3) "severe fluctuating group" (clinical range at one or more timepoints; 14.0%), and (4) "chronic psychological trauma group" (moderate or clinical range across all timepoints; 7.2%). Females, adolescents with pre-existing internalizing disorders, and participants whose families were most impacted by the pandemic were more susceptible to experiencing psychological trauma symptoms. Conclusions: Findings highlight at-risk populations and suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in psychological trauma symptoms for approximately 20% of adolescents at some point during the first year of the pandemic. There is critical need to provide mental health services to adolescents, such as through school-based services, to reduce the negative long-term psychological impact of the pandemic. [This paper was published in "Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy."]
Descriptors: Adolescents, COVID-19, Pandemics, Trauma, Psychological Patterns, Psychological Characteristics, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Females, Mental Disorders, Family Environment, At Risk Persons, Mental Health Programs, Student Needs, Middle School Students, Depression (Psychology), Anxiety Disorders, Predictor Variables
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A160126
Author Affiliations: N/A