Age-Related Differences in Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Angelo Rega, Raffaele Nappo, Roberta Simeoli and Mariangela Cerasuolo
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Angelo Rega: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Raffaele Nappo: Neapolisanit s.r.l. Rehabilitation Center, 80044 Ottaviano, Italy
Roberta Simeoli: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Mariangela Cerasuolo: Associazione Italiana Per L’Assistenza Spastici Onlus Sez Di Cicciano, 80033 Cicciano, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: While the negative impact of COVID-19 total lockdown on mental health in youth has been extensively studied, findings collected during subsequent waves of the pandemic, in which restrictive rules were more eased, are very sparse. Here, we explore perceived psychological distress during the partial lockdown of the third wave in Southern Italy in a large sample of students, focusing on age and gender differences. Also, we assessed whether attending the type of education could have a protective role on students’ psychological well-being. An online survey was completed by 1064 southern Italian students (age range: 8–19 years; males = 368) from March to July 2021. The survey consists of a set of questions regarding general sociodemographic information as well as several aspects of students’ psychological well-being. Psychological distress was higher in high school students compared to both elementary and middle ones. In addition, we found gender differences, but only in high school students, with females reporting higher psychological distress than males. Finally, our mediation analysis showed a mediated role of face-to-face schooling in the relationship between age and psychological distress. In conclusion, this study highlights age-related differences in psychological distress during the pandemic and the protective role of school in presence for mental health in Italian students.

Keywords: psychological distress; COVID-19 pandemic; students (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 (2)

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