New research from the NIH’s Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program suggests that some teens with pre-existing mental, emotional, behavioral, and developmental (MEBD) disabilities experienced more severe impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to understand how the pandemic affected life satisfaction among adolescents with conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and autism, which has been less explored in existing research.
Key Findings:
Decreased Social Connectedness: The study revealed that 80% of adolescents, regardless of pre-existing conditions, experienced a decrease in social connectedness during the pandemic. Decreased social connectedness was a widespread risk factor, but it was more detrimental to adolescents with MEBD conditions.
Specific Stressors: Adolescents with MEBD conditions reported lower life satisfaction when exposed to specific pandemic-related stresses, including:
- Decreased social connectedness.
- Decreased family engagement.
- Stress related to medical care access.
- Pandemic-related traumatic stress.
- Living in a single-caregiver household.
Interventions and Prevention: The findings suggest that healthcare providers, mental health practitioners, and pediatricians should be better informed about the vulnerabilities of adolescents with MEBD conditions during emergencies. This information can help develop interventions and prevention practices tailored to their specific needs.
Long-Term Effects: Future research should focus on the long-term effects of decreased social connections and other pandemic-related risks on adolescents, especially during critical developmental periods.
Methodology:
The study used COVID-19 survey data collected from April 2020 to August 2021 from a sample of 1,084 adolescents aged 11–21 and their caregivers.
The sample included individuals with and without disabilities from seven ECHO observational research sites in the U.S.
Researchers administered a COVID-19-specific survey to understand the physical, mental, and social impacts of the pandemic on adolescents and their families.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents with pre-existing MEBD conditions, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and prevention practices. It underscores the importance of addressing decreased social connectedness, family engagement, and access to medical support for all adolescents, especially those with disabilities. Further research should focus on vulnerable subgroups and the long-term effects of the pandemic on adolescents during critical developmental stages.
