COVID-19, Wellness and Life Satisfaction in Adolescence: Individual and Contextual Issues

Margarida Gaspar de Matos (), Marina Carvalho, Cátia Branquinho, Catarina Noronha, Bárbara Moraes, Tania Gaspar, Fábio Botelho Guedes, Ana Cerqueira, Osvaldo Santos and Nuno Neto Rodrigues
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Margarida Gaspar de Matos: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Marina Carvalho: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Cátia Branquinho: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Catarina Noronha: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Bárbara Moraes: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Tania Gaspar: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Fábio Botelho Guedes: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Cerqueira: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Osvaldo Santos: ISAMB/Aventura Social, Lisbon University, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
Nuno Neto Rodrigues: Directorate General of Education and Science Statistics, 1399-054 Lisbon, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: During and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, several works reflected on young people’s physical and psychological health. The Dual Factor Model, which we refer to as the quadripartite model, is useful for understanding children’s and adolescents’ psychological health and differentiating them regarding their attitude toward the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this investigation, students from the fifth to twelfth year of schooling enrolled in the DGEEC study “Psychological Health and Wellbeing in Portuguese schools” were considered. Four groups were created based on life satisfaction (low or high) and psychological distress (with or without symptoms). The study included 4444 students (M = 13.39 years ± 2.41), of whom 47.8% were male. Of the participants, 27.2% were in the second cycle of primary education, and 72.8% were in lower and upper secondary education. Differences in gender and education level (as a proxy for age) were observed. Additionally, when considering students’ perceptions of changes in their lives following the COVID-19 pandemic (stayed the same, became worse, became better), these three groups were compared concerning personal and contextual variables, revealing significant differences at both the individual and contextual levels. Finally, the study discusses the influence of education and health professionals and the need for friendly public policies.

Keywords: wellness; life satisfaction; adolescence; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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