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COVID-19-related future anxiety is associated with the health-related quality of life in school-aged children and adolescents-A cross-sectional study.
Kästner, Anika; Lücker, Petra; Hannich, Arne; Schmeyers, Lena; Lücker, Janny; Hoffmann, Wolfgang.
  • Kästner A; Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Lücker P; Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Hannich A; Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Schmeyers L; Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Lücker J; Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Hoffmann W; Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Front Public Health ; 10: 1003876, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2142340
ABSTRACT

Background:

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, previous studies have shown that the physical as well as the mental health of children and adolescents significantly deteriorated. Future anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associations with quality of life has not previously been examined in school children.

Methods:

As part of a cross-sectional web-based survey at schools in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, two years after the outbreak of the pandemic, school children were asked about COVID-19-related future anxiety using the German epidemic-related Dark Future Scale for children (eDFS-K). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the self-reported KIDSCREEN-10. The eDFS-K was psychometrically analyzed (internal consistency and confirmatory factor analysis) and thereafter examined as a predictor of HRQoL in a general linear regression model.

Results:

A total of N = 840 8-18-year-old children and adolescents were included in the analysis. The eDFS-K demonstrated adequate internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.77), and the confirmatory factor analysis further supported the one-factor structure of the four-item scale with an acceptable model fit. Over 43% of students were found to have low HRQoL. In addition, 47% of the students sometimes to often reported COVID-19-related fears about the future. Children with COVID-19-related future anxiety had significantly lower HRQoL (B = - 0.94, p < 0.001). Other predictors of lower HRQoL were older age (B = - 0.63, p < 0.001), and female (B = - 3.12, p < 0.001) and diverse (B = - 6.82, p < 0.001) gender.

Conclusion:

Two years after the outbreak of the pandemic, school-aged children continue to exhibit low HRQoL, which is further exacerbated in the presence of COVID-19-related future anxiety. Intervention programs with an increased focus on mental health also addressing future anxiety should be provided.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Quality of Life / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adolescent / Child / Female / Humans Language: English Journal: Front Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fpubh.2022.1003876

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Quality of Life / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adolescent / Child / Female / Humans Language: English Journal: Front Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fpubh.2022.1003876