The impact of COVID-19 on the lives and mental health of Australian adolescents
The impact of COVID-19 on the lives and mental health of Australian adolescents
The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological and lifestyle impact of the pandemic on Australian adolescents. Results showed that three-quarters of the sample experienced a worsening in mental health since the pandemic began, with negative impacts reported on learning, friendships and family relationships. There were also high higher levels of sleep disturbance, psychological distress and health anxiety, relative to normative samples. Effects on mental health were worse among those who reported a previous diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety relative to those with no such history.