Impact of COVID-19 on Young Adolescent Mental Health: Comparison of Depression, Anxiety and Behaviour Problems in 12 Year Olds Immediately Before and During the Pandemic in a UK Birth Cohort

Abstract

Background: We examine whether there has been an increase in young adolescent and maternal mental health problems from pre to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.Methods: Children aged 11 - 12 years and their mothers participating in a UK population-based birth cohort (Wirral Child Health and Development Study) provided mental health data between December 2019 and March 2020 and again 3 months after lockdown, 89% (N = 202) of 226 assessed pre-COVID-19. Emotional and behavioural problems were assessed by self- and maternal report, and long-term vulnerability by maternal report of prior child adjustment, and maternal prenatal depression. A range of COVID-19 associated risks were assessed as potential moderators.Findings: The young adolescents reported a 44% increase in symptoms of depression and 26% for PTSD. After adjustment for her own depression, the corresponding maternal reports of child symptoms gave increases of 71% and 43%. Both female gender and having had high internalising symptoms earlier in childhood were associated with elevated rates of depression pre-pandemic, and with greater absolute increases during COVID-19. Disruptive behaviour problems increased particularly in children without previous externalising symptoms. Mothers’ own depression increased by 42%, and this change was greater among those who had been depressed during pregnancy. No change in anxiety was observed among children or mothers. None of these increases was moderated by COVID-19 related experiences such as front-line worker status of a parent or financial impacts. Prior to the pandemic, rates of maternal and child depression were greater in families experiencing higher deprivation, but changed only in less deprived families, raising their rates to those of the high deprivation group. Interpretation: In the UK COVID-19 has led to a marked increase in mental health problems in young adolescents and their mothers.Funding: Medical Research Council and CWP NHS Foundation TrustDeclaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Cheshire North and West Research Ethics Committee on the 27 June 2006 (reference no. 05/Q1506/107), and 7th June 2010 (reference no. 10/H1010/4) and on 22nd December 2014 and 8th June 2020 (reference no. 14/NW/1484).