Author:
Haller Simone P.,Archer Camille,Jeong Annie,Jaffe Allison,Jones Emily L.,Harrewijn Anita,Naim Reut,Linke Julia O.,Stoddard Joel,Brotman Melissa A.
Abstract
AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic is a chronically stressful event, particularly for youth. Here, we examine (i) changes in mood and anxiety symtpoms, (ii) pandemic-related stress as a mediator of change in symptoms, and (ii) threat processing biases as a predictor of increased anxiety during the pandemic. A clinically well-characterized sample of 81 youth ages 8–18 years (M = 13.8 years, SD = 2.65; 40.7% female) including youth with affective and/or behavioral psychiatric diagnoses and youth without psychopathology completed pre- and during pandemic assessments of anxiety and depression and COVID-related stress. Forty-six youth also completed a threat processing fMRI task pre-pandemic. Anxiety and depression significantly increased during the pandemic (all ps < 0.05). Significant symptom change was partially mediated by pandemic stress and worries. Increased prefrontal activity in response to neutral faces pre-pandemic was associated with more intense parent-reported anxiety during the pandemic (all Fs(1.95,81.86) > 14.44, ps < 0.001). The present work extends existing knowledge on the mediating role of psychological stress on symptoms of anxiety and depression in youth.
Funder
National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program
BBRF Young Investigator Grant
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Cited by
4 articles.
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