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01-06-2020 | Mood Disorders | Original Contribution

Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychological health problems in Chinese adolescents during the outbreak of COVID-19

Authors: Shuang-Jiang Zhou, Li-Gang Zhang, Lei-Lei Wang, Zhao-Chang Guo, Jing-Qi Wang, Jin-Cheng Chen, Mei Liu, Xi Chen, Jing-Xu Chen

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 6/2020

Abstract

Psychological health problems, especially emotional disorders, are common among adolescents. The epidemiology of emotional disorders is greatly influenced by stressful events. This study sought to assess the prevalence rate and socio-demographic correlates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. We conducted a cross-sectional study among Chinese students aged 12–18 years during the COVID-19 epidemic period. An online survey was used to conduct rapid assessment. A total of 8079 participants were involved in the study. An online survey was used to collect demographic data, assess students’ awareness of COVID-19, and assess depressive and anxiety symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and a combination of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 43.7%, 37.4%, and 31.3%, respectively, among Chinese high school students during the COVID-19 outbreak. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender was the higher risk factor for depressive and anxiety symptoms. In terms of grades, senior high school was a risk factor for depressive and anxiety symptoms; the higher the grade, the greater the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Our findings show there is a high prevalence of psychological health problems among adolescents, which are negatively associated with the level of awareness of COVID-19. These findings suggest that the government needs to pay more attention to psychological health among adolescents while combating COVID-19.

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Title: Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychological health problems in Chinese adolescents during the outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: Shuang-Jiang Zhou
Li-Gang Zhang
Lei-Lei Wang
Zhao-Chang Guo
Jing-Qi Wang
Jin-Cheng Chen
Mei Liu
Xi Chen
Jing-Xu Chen
Publication date: 01-06-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
COVID-19
Anxiety
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01541-4

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychological health problems in Chinese adolescents during the outbreak of COVID-19

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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