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The COVID-19 Pandemic and Adolescents’ Psychological Distress: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Hang T. M. Nguyen

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam)

  • Hoang V. Nguyen

    (Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • Btissame Zouini

    (UAE/U24FS, FS, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 90100, Morocco)

  • Meftaha Senhaji

    (UAE/U24FS, FS, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 90100, Morocco)

  • Kourosh Bador

    (AGERA KBT, 41138 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Zsuzsa Szombathyne Meszaros

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA)

  • Dejan Stevanovic

    (Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Nóra Kerekes

    (Department of Health Sciences, University West, 46132 Trollhattan, Sweden)

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued for more than two years, and the impact of this pandemic on mental health has become one of the most important research topics in psychiatry and psychology. The aim of the present study was to assess psychological distress in adolescents across five countries (Sweden, Morocco, Serbia, Vietnam, and the United States of America) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using nonparametric analyses we examined the impact of COVID-19 on distress, measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, in a sample of 4670 adolescents. Results: Our results showed that the association between the COVID-19 impact and psychological distress in adolescents’ lives was positive and moderate in Morocco and Serbia, positive and weak in Vietnam and the United States of America, and negative and weak in Sweden. We also found that female adolescents reported higher distress levels than male adolescents. Conclusions: COVID-19 impacted adolescents and their psychological distress differently depending on their residence.

Suggested Citation

  • Hang T. M. Nguyen & Hoang V. Nguyen & Btissame Zouini & Meftaha Senhaji & Kourosh Bador & Zsuzsa Szombathyne Meszaros & Dejan Stevanovic & Nóra Kerekes, 2022. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Adolescents’ Psychological Distress: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8261-:d:857148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nóra Kerekes & Kourosh Bador & Anis Sfendla & Mohjat Belaatar & Abdennour El Mzadi & Vladimir Jovic & Rade Damjanovic & Maria Erlandsson & Hang Thi Minh Nguyen & Nguyet Thi Anh Nguyen & Scott F. Ulber, 2021. "Changes in Adolescents’ Psychosocial Functioning and Well-Being as a Consequence of Long-Term COVID-19 Restrictions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Marla Andréia Garcia de Avila & Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho & Francine Letícia da Silva Jacob & Léia Regina Souza Alcantara & Malin Berghammer & Margaretha Jenholt Nolbris & Patricia Olaya-Contreras & , 2020. "Children’s Anxiety and Factors Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study Using the Children’s Anxiety Questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-13, August.
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    4. Webbink, Ellen & Smits, Jeroen & de Jong, Eelke, 2012. "Hidden Child Labor: Determinants of Housework and Family Business Work of Children in 16 Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 631-642.
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    2. Guillermo Alonso Cervantes-Cardona & Adriana Nápoles-Echauri & Nicolas Alonso-Estrella & Francisco Javier Hernández-Mora & Enrique Cervantes-Pérez & Gabino Cervantes-Guevara & Benjamín García-Reyna & , 2022. "Prevalence of Dysexecutive Symptoms in High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.

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