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Youth

COVID-19 Pandemic Takes a Toll on Adolescent Wellbeing

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study published in the journal Child Indicators Research has highlighted the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of adolescents in Mexico and Chile. The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of La Frontera, revealed that adolescents in both countries have faced significant psychological challenges, including lower levels of flourishing and higher levels of languishing. The study also found that female adolescents, especially late adolescents, were more likely to experience poly-victimization, which had a negative impact on their eudaimonic wellbeing.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has generated negative psychological effects on the global population, with adolescents being one of the most vulnerable groups.
  • Late adolescents scored lower on flourishing, and males scored higher than females in terms of wellbeing.
  • There was a higher prevalence of languishing in late adolescents from both countries, as well as high levels of languishing in non-binary adolescents, especially in Chile.
  • Poly-victimization was a significant predictor of lower wellbeing, with female and late adolescent groups being most affected.
  • The study's findings have implications for mental health policies aimed at improving the wellbeing of adolescents.
  • The research was conducted using data from 3,275 adolescent students, with the support of the Global Research Alliance.

Statistics:

  • 3,275 adolescent students participated in the study.
  • 55% of the participants were females, and 45% were males.
  • 71% of the participants were late adolescents, and 29% were early adolescents.
  • 62% of the participants reported experiencing poly-victimization.
  • 42% of the participants reported languishing, with higher rates in Chile (46%) compared to Mexico (38%).

Sources:

  • Characterization of Wellbeing and Its Relationship With Exposure To Violence In Mexican and Chilean Early and Late Adolescents During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Child Indicators Research, 2022.
  • University of La Frontera, Nucleo Cientif Tecnol Ciencias Sociales & Humanid, Catedra Unesco Bienestar Ninez & Adolescencia Edu, Temuco, Chile.
  • Springer. (www.springer.com; Child Indicators Research. (www.springerlink.com/content/1874-897x/).

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