Study shows boys' depressive symptoms rose with pandemic, but girls' improved during initial school closures

study shows boys' depressive symptoms rose with pandemic, but girls' improved during initial school closures

Study Period and the COVID-19 Context in Tokyo, Japan. Credit: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.08.016

A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that girls and boys were affected differently by the pandemic. The study focused on depressive symptoms among 16-year-olds surveyed during the pandemic compared to those surveyed pre-pandemic.

There was an increase in depressive symptoms in boys beyond the expected age-related trajectory, which emerged later in the first year of the pandemic and then early into the second year. In contrast, the overall increase in depressive symptoms for girls was within the expected natural age-related increase.

Studies report a decline in adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many of these studies lacked pre-pandemic comparison data or did not consider the natural age-related changes in mental health problems experienced during adolescence, making it challenging to accurately evaluate the impact of the pandemic on adolescent mental health. Moreover, many studies focused on the initial months of the pandemic; therefore, little is known about the impact of the pandemic into the second year.

This longitudinal study utilized data from 2,034 adolescents in the Tokyo Teen Cohort, a population-based cohort in Tokyo, which continuously collected data throughout the pandemic. The study compared self-reported depressive symptoms of 16-year-olds surveyed before (February 2019–February 2020) or during the pandemic (March 2020–September 2021).

Importantly, the study is innovative by comparing symptoms of 16-year-olds before or during the pandemic while controlling for within-person symptom changes, which allowed the researchers to determine whether changes in depressive symptoms were within the expected sex- and age-related trajectories.

Depressive symptoms showed a small but significant increase during the pandemic; however, this increase varied by sex and pandemic phase. While girls showed greater average depressive symptoms than boys at age 16, a significant increase during the pandemic was observed only in boys. For boys, the increase emerged in the late first year of the pandemic and enlarged into the second year.

In contrast, girls' depressive symptoms decreased in the school-closure phase (March–May, 2020) during the early pandemic period, and returned to the pre-pandemic level after the reopening of schools, with no additional increases during the pandemic. No differences by household income were observed.

Mariko Hosozawa, MD, Ph.D., lead author from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, said "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of adolescents in Tokyo was more pronounced among boys. This may partly be due to extended restrictions on school activity for infection control, which may have affected boys more, and to gendered social norms that discourage boys from seeking help."

She adds, "The findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and approaches to support adolescent mental health at the population level. Changing social norms around help-seeking and encouraging help-seeking for mental health issues, particularly among boys, is an important approach. Implementing these approaches and accumulating scientific evidence on the pandemic's effects on adolescent mental health, will help enhance pandemic preparedness and build a more resilient society."

More information: Mariko Hosozawa et al, Sex Differences in Adolescent Depression Trajectory Before and Into the Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.08.016

Provided by Elsevier

This story was originally published on Medical Xpress. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest sci-tech news updates.

OTHER NEWS

24 minutes ago

‘It always destroys me’: our writers on their saddest movie deaths

24 minutes ago

Duchess of Sussex launches new American Riviera Orchard product before Trooping the Colour

24 minutes ago

Neal Shipley Receives Penalty At US Open But Remains In Hunt For Low Amateur Honors

24 minutes ago

Brian Cox: I’m worried the SNP could back off from independence campaign

24 minutes ago

Wes Streeting hits out at Sky presenter as he says ’you don’t want to hear’ Labour’s plans

24 minutes ago

Rev Richard Coles interview: ‘Dating again was like waking from hibernation’

26 minutes ago

Haj pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha

28 minutes ago

Latrell Mitchell earns NSW State of Origin call up as Michael Maguire makes shock move in axing TWO Sharks stars for do-or-die clash with Queensland

32 minutes ago

Irish weather: Sunny spells and temperatures to hit 20 degrees – but heavy rain still on the cards

32 minutes ago

France : protesters stand up to far-right ahead of elections

32 minutes ago

Zelensky Expects Ukraine to Send a Peace Proposal to Moscow

32 minutes ago

Climate is too serious to be obstructed by politics

33 minutes ago

Chris Billam-Smith, Richard Riakporhe and the truth about winning ugly

33 minutes ago

LGBT soldiers in Ukraine hope service is changing attitudes as they rally for rights

33 minutes ago

Kirsten Dunst is the epitome of elegance in a strappy semi-sheer black gown as she attends the Critics Choice Real TV Awards

33 minutes ago

How much does it really cost to retire to Spain? Everything you need to know before taking the leap (and it's less money than you might think!)

33 minutes ago

How much does it really cost to retire to Spain? Everything you need to know before taking the leap (and it's less money than you might think!)

33 minutes ago

BYD Seal electric vehicle owner's embarrassing mistake on Perth's City Beach

37 minutes ago

Kaizer Chiefs: Nasreddine Nabi receives another offer!

37 minutes ago

Brighton announce Fabian Hürzeler appointment

37 minutes ago

Ten-year US-Ukraine security deal is a 'landmark event', FM Kuleba says

37 minutes ago

Ways Charlotte stepped up for beloved mum as Kate Middleton made triumphant return

37 minutes ago

Majorcans take over tiny cove amid island's anti-tourism backlash

37 minutes ago

T20 World Cup: How does the Super 8 stage work

37 minutes ago

Bulls set to lose another Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok for URC Grand Final against Glasgow Warriors

40 minutes ago

Former Everton star Frank D'Arcy dies aged 77, as Toffees pay tribute to their title-winning defender

44 minutes ago

Ron Washington won't let losses deter belief in Angels: 'Ain't no damn failure'

44 minutes ago

General election 2024 live: Tories could win just 72 seats in next Parliament, new Survation poll says

44 minutes ago

Slovenia v Denmark LIVE: Euro 2024 team news, line-ups and more today

44 minutes ago

Gino D'Acampo 'rakes in £6m in two years' after he 'failed to pay £5m to staff and taxman' when his My Pasta Bar chain went under

44 minutes ago

'Britain's FBI' investigating PPE scandal linked to 'Baroness Bra' Michelle Mone interview at least five suspects under caution - as case reaches China

44 minutes ago

The Entire Young Sheldon Timeline Explained

47 minutes ago

John Sterling’s kids reveal what it’s like to have the legendary Yankees announcer as a dad: ‘Unlike any other human’

48 minutes ago

Londis shop orders staff to pour famous cider down drain over 'stolen' name

48 minutes ago

Hamas response to Gaza ceasefire proposal 'consistent' with principles of US plan, leader says

48 minutes ago

Top model Josh: ‘Celebs love me because I’m a Kiwi’

49 minutes ago

Greene homers twice and has a career-best 6 RBIs as Tigers rout Astros 13-5

49 minutes ago

Boozy England fans drink in the Euro 2024 atmosphere ahead of first game vs Serbia

53 minutes ago

Playwright James Graham: ‘We’re still living in Thatcher’s country’

53 minutes ago

Kate Middleton - latest: Prince William shares sweet message day after Princess returns to public duties