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A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating Canadian and Australian Adolescents’ Perceived Experiences of COVID-19: Gender Differences and Mental Health Implications

Author

Listed:
  • Riana Marie

    (Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
    Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
    College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Audrey-Ann Journault

    (Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Montréal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada
    Psychology Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Rebecca Cernik

    (Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Montréal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada
    Psychiatry Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada)

  • Paul Welch

    (College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia)

  • Sonia Lupien

    (Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Montréal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada
    Psychiatry Department, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada)

  • Brett McDermott

    (College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia)

  • Joseph V. Moxon

    (College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia)

  • Zoltan Sarnyai

    (Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
    Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
    College of Public Health, Medical, and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia)

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic has been associated with adverse psychological outcomes. This cross-cultural study ( N = 1326, 71% female) aimed to investigate Canadian and Australian adolescents’ subjective experiences of COVID-19, gender differences, and psychological implications. Mixed-methods analyses were used to examine differences in COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes between country and gender in a Canadian ( N = 913, 78% female) and an Australian sample ( N = 413, 57% female) of adolescents. Canadian adolescents reported increased COVID-19 discussions and more concerns related to their COVID-19 experiences compared to Australian adolescents. Girls consistently reported more concerns related to COVID-19 and poorer psychological outcomes compared to boys. School lockdown for the Canadian sample may have played a role in these country differences. Further, girls might be at significantly more risk for mental health concerns during COVID-19, which should be considered in adolescent mental health initiatives during the pandemic. Although school disruption and separation of peers due to the pandemic likely have a role in adolescent perceived stressors and mental health, the differences between Canadian and Australian adolescents were less clear and future investigations comparing more objective pre-COVID-19 data to current data are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Riana Marie & Audrey-Ann Journault & Rebecca Cernik & Paul Welch & Sonia Lupien & Brett McDermott & Joseph V. Moxon & Zoltan Sarnyai, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating Canadian and Australian Adolescents’ Perceived Experiences of COVID-19: Gender Differences and Mental Health Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4407-:d:788129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ewen Callaway & David Cyranoski & Smriti Mallapaty & Emma Stoye & Jeff Tollefson, 2020. "The coronavirus pandemic in five powerful charts," Nature, Nature, vol. 579(7800), pages 482-483, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Collins Opoku Antwi & Michelle Allyshia Belle & Seth Yeboah Ntim & Yuanchun Wu & Emmanuel Affum-Osei & Michael Osei Aboagye & Jun Ren, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic and International Students’ Mental Health in China: Age, Gender, Chronic Health Condition and Having Infected Relative as Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.

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