TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Adolescents' symptoms of anxiety and depression before and during the Covid-19 outbreak - a prospective population-based study of teenagers in Norway
JO  - Lancet regional health. Europe
A1  - Hafstad, Gertrud Sofie
A1  - Sætren, Sjur Skjørshammer
A1  - Wentzel-Larsen, Tore
A1  - Augusti, Else-Marie
SP  - e100093
EP  - e100093
VL  - 5
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Lockdown policies related to the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic has potential negative consequences for mental health in youths. <br><br>METHODS: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed in 3 572 adolescents, age 13 to 16 using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10), in a representative longitudinal survey of Norwegian youths between February 2019 (T1) and June 2020 (T2). Predictors for symptom change were analysed with linear mixed-effects models. <br><br>FINDINGS: Overall, clinical levels of anxiety and depression increased slightly from 5.5% at T1 to 6.3% at T2; Chi square 224.4 (df = 1), p<.001. However, the observed change was driven by the increase in age between assessments. Being a girl, having pre-existing mental health problems, and living in a single-parent household at T1, predicted higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms at T2 (p<.001). Living in a single-parent household was associated with a significant increase in symptoms, also when age was controlled for (p<.001). Living in a poor family however, or having a history of maltreatment, was associated with a significantly lower increase in symptoms (p<.001). <br><br>INTERPRETATION: Anxiety and depressive symptoms increased slightly in Norwegian youths between 2019 and 2020, but this change seemed to be driven by increase in age rather than pandemic-related measures. Symptom levels were unevenly distributed across demographic groups both before and during the pandemic outbreak, indicating that health disparities persist for adolescents in risk groups during a pandemic. Health inequities related to living conditions need to be addressed in future action plans, and intensified measures to mitigate inequities are needed. FUNDING: The study was funded by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Adolescents and Family affairs (Bufdir).<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2666-7762
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100093
ID  - ref1
ER  -