Search

The closure of schools, social hubs, and extracurricular activities due to lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2, has increased the risk factors for students' mental health. This cross‐sectional study, conducted from March 2020 to March 2021, aimed to estimate socio‐emotional, cognitive, and affective disorders and substance use in a sample of first‐ and second‐grade high school students in Northern Italy. This study compared data from 284 Italian students' self‐perceptions along with the perceptions of their parents and teachers through a web‐based survey. The differences in the perceptions of the three groups (students, parents, and teachers) were analyzed using an analysis of variance test, applying a Bonferroni correction. The χ2 test was used to assess the comparison between students, parents, and teachers in the substance use questions. The results showed statistically significant differences among the three groups. The most important outcomes were sociality, scholastic performance, extracurricular activity, emotional symptoms, affective disorders (depression and anxiety), and substance use. These findings could be interesting for the promotion of mental health and prevention of psychopathological risks in students. Practitioner Points: The closure of schools due to COVID‐19 lockdown measures has increased the risk factors for students' mental health.There is significant differences among the perceptions of students, parents, and teachers, especially concerning sociality, scholastic performance, extracurricular activity, emotional symptoms, affective disorders, and substance use.Training initiatives should be developed to improve teachers' perceptions of their students and parents' perceptions of their children for the promotion of well‐being and the prevention of early school dropout, self‐addiction, and psychopathological risks in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: The global coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has been challenging for adolescents. Indeed, with the closure of schools and social centers and reduction of extracurricular activities, increased social isolation has compounded difficulties in and with school performance, loneliness, and social networking. Increased risk of mental health problems, substance abuse, affective disorders, suicidal ideation, and suicide has been reported in adolescents. Methods: This cross‐sectional study assesses the association between loneliness, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, the use of social networks, and school achievement in a sample of Italian adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study also explores emotional dysregulation through the association between affective disorders (depression and anxiety), substance use, and social networks. The sample comprises adolescents in the first and second grades of high school during the pandemic; participants received an email explaining the purpose of the e‐research. Data were collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, and the Loneliness Scale. Findings: A total of 505 adolescents completed the web survey. Data revealed that students experienced difficulties with loneliness, problems with school achievement, and extracurricular activities. The mean scores for depression and anxiety were close to the borderline range. A total of 14.3% of adolescents intentionally harmed themselves or attempted suicide. Conclusions: This study raises concerns about the impacts of the pandemic on adolescents that require the attention of adult reference figures who deal with adolescents, such as parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals. Results indicate the necessity of providing early interventions aimed at the prevention of psychopathologies and the promotion of adolescent mental health due to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]