Impact of School and Peer Connectedness on Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Panel Survey

Emily Widnall, Lizzy Winstone, Ruth Plackett, Emma A. Adams, Claire M. A. Haworth, Becky Mars and Judi Kidger
Additional contact information
Emily Widnall: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Lizzy Winstone: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Ruth Plackett: Division of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
Emma A. Adams: Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4ES, UK
Claire M. A. Haworth: School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK
Becky Mars: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Judi Kidger: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: School closures and social distancing measures during the pandemic have disrupted young people’s daily routines and social relationships. We explored patterns of change in adolescent mental health and tested the relationship between pre-pandemic levels of school and peer connectedness and changes in mental health and well-being between the first lockdown and the return to school. This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal 3-wave panel survey. The study sample included 603 students (aged 13–14) in 17 secondary schools across south-west England. Students completed a survey pre-pandemic (October 2019), during lockdown (May 2020) and shortly after returning to school (October 2020). Multilevel models, with random effects, were conducted for anxiety, depression and well-being outcomes with school and peer connectedness as predictor variables. Symptoms of anxiety decreased from pre-pandemic to during the first UK lockdown and increased on the return to school; anxious symptoms decreased the most for students reporting feeling least connected to school pre-pandemic. Students reporting low levels of school and peer connectedness pre-pandemic experienced poorer mental health and well-being at all time points. Low school connectedness pre-pandemic was associated with a greater increase in anxious and depressive symptoms between lockdown and the return to school when compared to students with medium levels of school connectedness. No associations were found with high school connectedness or with low/high peer connectedness. For adolescents with poor school connectedness, the enforced time away from school that the pandemic caused led to reduced anxiety. Going forwards, we need to consider ways in which to promote connection with school as a way of supporting mental health and well-being.

Keywords: mental health; well-being; social connectedness; adolescents; school; COVID-19; lockdown (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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