Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and containment efforts seem to be particularly
challenging for adolescents. This study assessed mental health in 14- to
20-year-old high school students 1.5 years after the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. A cross-sectional survey was carried out
from 14th September 2021 to 14th
November 2021. Well-being (WHO-5), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety
symptoms (GAD-7) and sleep quality (ISI) were assessed. A total of 1505
adolescents participated (77.9% girls). The cut-off for clinically
relevant depressive symptoms (i.e., PHQ-9 score, ≥11) was exceeded by
61.9% girls and 38.1% boys and 49.3% girls and 28.8% boys had
clinically relevant anxiety symptoms (i.e., GAD-7 score, ≥11).
Clinically relevant moderate insomnia (i.e., ISI score, ≥15) was
reported by 27.5% girls and 16.7% boys. The prevalence of suicidal
ideation (item 9 of the PHQ-9) within the last 2 weeks was 46.8% in
girls and 32.0% in boys. These data collected in autumn 2021 (at the
start of the second semester of reopened schools; t2) were compared to
data collected in February 2021 (one semester after almost exclusively
remote schooling; t1). A matched pairs analysis according to age,
gender, region, school type and migration background resulted in a total
sample size of N = 2514 adolescents (70.1% females). Results showed
small reduction in mental health (i.e., well-being, depressive symptoms,
insomnia, suicidal ideation) in girls at t2 compared to t1, and an
increase in suicidal thoughts in boys (all p-values
<0.05). Results suggest that mental health burden in
adolescents remained high 1.5 years after the start of the COVID-19
pandemic and highlight the need to implement timely psychological
support.