The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on PHQ Depression Screening Scores for High School Athletes

Devin P. Adams (), Jasmine R. Holt, Jenna A. Martin, Danielle M. Houpy and Kathryn A. Hollenbach
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Devin P. Adams: Transforming Mental Health, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
Jasmine R. Holt: Transforming Mental Health, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
Jenna A. Martin: Medical Practice Foundation, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
Danielle M. Houpy: Transforming Mental Health, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
Kathryn A. Hollenbach: Transforming Mental Health, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-9

Abstract: Adolescent behavioral health was in crisis before COVID-19. The shutdown and reopening of in-person learning and extracurricular activities may have worsened this crisis. We examined high school athletes’ depression before and during the pandemic. Data were collected as part of a pilot program incorporating Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) screenings during high school sports physicals before the COVID-19 lockdown and three timepoints after. Statistical comparisons were made using logistic regression. A total of 927 individual scores were analyzed: 385 from spring 2020; 145 from fall 2020; 163 from fall 2021; and 234 from spring 2022. Fall 2020 students were 3.7 times more likely to have elevated PHQ-2 scores than spring 2020 students (95% CI = 1.8, 7.6). Fall 2021 and spring 2022 scores did not differ significantly from pre-pandemic, although trends of elevated scores persisted (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 0.7, 3.5, and OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 0.6, 2.4, respectively). A significant difference in PHQ-9 depression severity classification was detected over time ( p < 0.01). Elevated PHQ scores were found after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the initial peak in fall 2020, scores decreased but did not reach pre-pandemic levels.

Keywords: COVID-19; high school athletes; depression screening; PHQ; lockdown; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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