Positive youth development softens blow of COVID-19 on mental health

Positive youth development (PYD) could protect against symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brought about by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a recent study has found.

Through a survey across five schools in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, the researchers assessed PYD in 4,981 adolescents (mean age 13.15±1.32 years, 51.5 percent girls). Data were collected in two waves: the first before school lockdown and the second after its resumption. PYD qualities, as well as perceived threats of the pandemic and PTSD symptoms, were also measured during the surveys.

PYD was assessed using the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale, which looks at psychosocial competencies across the domains of emotion, resilience, bonding with others, and self-efficacy.

More than 90 percent of the adolescents believed COVID-19 pandemic to be moderately or very severe, and a similar proportion of responses said that COVID-19 is dangerous. In contrast, relatively fewer (38.4 percent) thought that it was likely for them to get infected.

In terms of mental health, 15 percent to 28 percent of respondents had PTSD symptoms; 517 participants scored 30 or above in the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale, indicating that the prevalence of excessive PTSD symptoms was 10.4 percent.

The perceived threat of COVID-19 was significantly and positively correlated with PTSD symptoms (r, 0.14; p<0.001). However, PYD at the first wave showed an inverse association with PTSD (r, –0.16; p<0.001). Hierarchical regression confirmed that perceived COVID-19 threat worsened PTSD (β, 0.13; p<0.001), while PYD was significantly protective (β, –0.16; p<0.001).

“Practically speaking, the present findings suggest the importance of strengthening PYD qualities in adolescents via PYD programmes,” taking into account the available evidence and cultural propriety, the researchers said.