Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth
Abstract Background Although studies of adults show that pre-existing mental disorders increase risk for COVID-19 infection and severity, there is limited information about this association among youth. Mental disorders in general as well as specific types of disorders may influence the ability to c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00561-7 |
| _version_ | 1811175998241112064 |
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| author | Kevin P. Conway Kriti Bhardwaj Emmanuella Michel Diana Paksarian Aki Nikolaidis Minji Kang Kathleen R. Merikangas Michael P. Milham |
| author_facet | Kevin P. Conway Kriti Bhardwaj Emmanuella Michel Diana Paksarian Aki Nikolaidis Minji Kang Kathleen R. Merikangas Michael P. Milham |
| author_sort | Kevin P. Conway |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although studies of adults show that pre-existing mental disorders increase risk for COVID-19 infection and severity, there is limited information about this association among youth. Mental disorders in general as well as specific types of disorders may influence the ability to comply with risk-mitigation strategies to reduce COVID-19 infection and transmission. Methods Youth compliance (rated as “Never,” “Sometimes,” “Often,” or “Very often/Always”) with risk mitigation was reported by parents on the CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) in January 2021. The sample comprised 314 female and 514 male participants from the large-scale Child Mind Institute Healthy Brain Network, a transdiagnostic self-referred, community sample of children and adolescents (ages 5–21). Responses were summarized using factor analysis of risk mitigation, and their associations with lifetime mental disorders (assessed via structured diagnostic interviews) were identified with linear regression analyses (adjusted for covariates). All analyses used R Project for Statistical Computing for Mac (v.4.0.5). Results A two-factor model was the best-fitting solution. Factor 1 (avoidance behaviors) included avoiding groups, indoor settings, and other peoples’ homes; avoidance scores were higher among youth with any anxiety disorder (p = .01). Factor 2 (hygiene behaviors) included using hand sanitizer, washing hands, and maintaining social distance; hygiene scores were lower among youth with ADHD (combined type) (p = .02). Mask wearing was common (90%), did not load on either factor, and was not associated with any mental health disorder. Conclusion and relevance Although most mental disorders examined were not associated with risk mitigation, youth with ADHD characterized by hyperactivity plus inattention may need additional support to consistently engage in risk-mitigation behaviors. Enhancing risk-mitigation strategies among at-risk groups of youth may help reduce COVID-19 infection and transmission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:44:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-04b06499a33d45d2bdc55c322ea1344b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:44:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-04b06499a33d45d2bdc55c322ea1344b2023-01-29T12:04:34ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002023-01-0117111010.1186/s13034-023-00561-7Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youthKevin P. Conway0Kriti Bhardwaj1Emmanuella Michel2Diana Paksarian3Aki Nikolaidis4Minji Kang5Kathleen R. Merikangas6Michael P. Milham7Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch, National Institute of Mental HealthCenter for the Developing Brain, The Child Mind InstituteGenetic Epidemiology Research Branch, National Institute of Mental HealthGenetic Epidemiology Research Branch, National Institute of Mental HealthCenter for the Developing Brain, The Child Mind InstituteCenter for the Developing Brain, The Child Mind InstituteGenetic Epidemiology Research Branch, National Institute of Mental HealthCenter for the Developing Brain, The Child Mind InstituteAbstract Background Although studies of adults show that pre-existing mental disorders increase risk for COVID-19 infection and severity, there is limited information about this association among youth. Mental disorders in general as well as specific types of disorders may influence the ability to comply with risk-mitigation strategies to reduce COVID-19 infection and transmission. Methods Youth compliance (rated as “Never,” “Sometimes,” “Often,” or “Very often/Always”) with risk mitigation was reported by parents on the CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) in January 2021. The sample comprised 314 female and 514 male participants from the large-scale Child Mind Institute Healthy Brain Network, a transdiagnostic self-referred, community sample of children and adolescents (ages 5–21). Responses were summarized using factor analysis of risk mitigation, and their associations with lifetime mental disorders (assessed via structured diagnostic interviews) were identified with linear regression analyses (adjusted for covariates). All analyses used R Project for Statistical Computing for Mac (v.4.0.5). Results A two-factor model was the best-fitting solution. Factor 1 (avoidance behaviors) included avoiding groups, indoor settings, and other peoples’ homes; avoidance scores were higher among youth with any anxiety disorder (p = .01). Factor 2 (hygiene behaviors) included using hand sanitizer, washing hands, and maintaining social distance; hygiene scores were lower among youth with ADHD (combined type) (p = .02). Mask wearing was common (90%), did not load on either factor, and was not associated with any mental health disorder. Conclusion and relevance Although most mental disorders examined were not associated with risk mitigation, youth with ADHD characterized by hyperactivity plus inattention may need additional support to consistently engage in risk-mitigation behaviors. Enhancing risk-mitigation strategies among at-risk groups of youth may help reduce COVID-19 infection and transmission.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00561-7Risk mitigationCOVID-19YouthCRISISAnxietyADHD |
| spellingShingle | Kevin P. Conway Kriti Bhardwaj Emmanuella Michel Diana Paksarian Aki Nikolaidis Minji Kang Kathleen R. Merikangas Michael P. Milham Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Risk mitigation COVID-19 Youth CRISIS Anxiety ADHD |
| title | Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth |
| title_full | Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth |
| title_fullStr | Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth |
| title_short | Association between COVID-19 risk-mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth |
| title_sort | association between covid 19 risk mitigation behaviors and specific mental disorders in youth |
| topic | Risk mitigation COVID-19 Youth CRISIS Anxiety ADHD |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00561-7 |
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