Examination of Pre-Pandemic Measures on Youth Well-Being During Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Porter, Blaire M.; Douglas, Ian J.; Larguinho, Tyler L.; Aristizabal, Melissa; Mitchell, Mackenzie E.; Roe, Mary Abbe; Church, Jessica A.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in numerous ways. How youth have been impacted by the pandemic, and which pre-existing factors best relate to COVID-19 responses, is of high importance for effective identification and treatment of those most vulnerable. Youth with pre-pandemic mental health difficulties like ADHD could be at risk for worse well-being during and after the pandemic. METHODS: The current study tested potential risk factors (i.e., pre-pandemic mental health, age, and parent education) and their relation to family experiences during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were previously enrolled in an on-going, yearly longitudinal study examining the relationship between mental health and executive functions in youths. Families with 1-4 annual pre-pandemic lab visits filled out an online COVID-19 survey in May-July 2020 to assess how the pandemic impacted their well-being (n=135 youth). RESULTS: Youth pre-pandemic mental health difficulties, especially ADHD symptoms, related to worse well-being during the early pandemic. Trajectories of recent ADHD symptoms over time also predicted cognitive difficulties during the pandemic. We found that youth age was a strong predictor of pandemic response, with younger youths showing fewer negative responses. Parental education level buffered family economics during early COVID-19. Families showed synchrony in their pandemic response. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-pandemic ADHD severity and slope, youth age, and parent education (a proxy for socioeconomic status) were risk factors that influenced youth or family well-being early in the COVID-19 pandemic; this information can help identify those who may need more community and educational support.