IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i7p933-d1437255.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Parental Mental Health, Gender, and Lifestyle Effects on Post-Pandemic Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Problems: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Northern Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Verena Barbieri

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Giuliano Piccoliori

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Adolf Engl

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Christian J. Wiedermann

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
    Department of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, 6060 Hall, Austria)

Abstract

Background: The exacerbation of psychosocial problems among children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitates an assessment of the long-term mental health impact of pandemic interventions. Focusing on both pandemic-related factors and demographic variables, such as gender and daily habits, an analysis was conducted to understand how these elements continue to affect young populations in the post-pandemic era. Methods: In April 2023, a comprehensive online survey was administered to families in South Tyrol, Italy, with children aged 7–19 years, to ensure age and gender representation. The survey included parent ratings and adolescent (11–19 years) self-reports using standardized instruments to measure the symptoms of mental health problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ), anxiety (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, SCARED), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2, PHQ-2). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and unadjusted odds ratios (ORs). Results: Of the 4525 valid responses, 1831 were self-reported by adolescents. Notable gender differences in mental health outcomes were identified, along with significant demographic predictors, such as age, single parenthood, parental mental health problems, and immigrant background. Negative effects were associated with reduced family climate and increased screen time, whereas physical activity showed beneficial effects. Proxy reports overestimated adolescents’ mental health problems, whereas self-reports tended to underestimate them. Conclusions: Persistent mental health problems and gender disparities highlight the need for a public health approach. This should include accessible support services, resilience building, targeted support for vulnerable families and gender-specific interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Verena Barbieri & Giuliano Piccoliori & Adolf Engl & Christian J. Wiedermann, 2024. "Parental Mental Health, Gender, and Lifestyle Effects on Post-Pandemic Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Problems: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-19, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:7:p:933-:d:1437255
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/7/933/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/7/933/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rachel Yoder & Alyssa Michaud & Amanda Feagans & Kendra E. Hinton-Froese & Allison Meyer & Victoria A. Powers & Leah Stalnaker & Melissa K. Hord, 2024. "Family-Based Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, and ADHD for a Parent and Child," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Rachel Dale & Teresa O’Rourke & Elke Humer & Andrea Jesser & Paul L. Plener & Christoph Pieh, 2021. "Mental Health of Apprentices during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria and the Effect of Gender, Migration Background, and Work Situation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-11, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Katja Haider & Elke Humer & Magdalena Weber & Christoph Pieh & Tiam Ghorab & Rachel Dale & Carina Dinhof & Afsaneh Gächter & Thomas Probst & Andrea Jesser, 2023. "An Assessment of Austrian School Students’ Mental Health and Their Wish for Support: A Mixed Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-18, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:7:p:933-:d:1437255. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.