Media release

From: The Royal Society

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health: a natural experiment

This study is based on a natural experiment within ongoing school-based trials allowing more robust estimates of the impact of the pandemic on adolescent mental health. One group were not exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic between baseline and follow-up (n = 6,419) and the second group were exposed to the pandemic (n = 5,031). We estimate that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction (no effect for behavioural difficulties); and impacts were greater in girls compared to boys. Approximately 6% fewer cases of high depressive symptoms would be observed had the pandemic not occurred. 

Mental health and COVID-19 – Cases of adolescents with high depressive symptoms would be around 6% lower if the pandemic hadn’t happened. This study compared the mental health of adolescents across the UK, finding depressive symptoms were higher and life satisfaction scores lower among teenagers during the pandemic, and impacts were greater in girls compared to boys. Clearer guidance and increased funding for schools may have enabled better systems for supporting pupils’ mental health during this period, the authors said.