1. Collaborative outcomes study on health and functioning during infection times (COH-FIT) : global and risk-group stratified course of well-being and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescentsMarco Solmi, Trevor Thompson, Samuele Cortese, Andrés Estradé, Agorastos Agorastos, Joaquim Radua, Elena Dragioti, Davy Vancampfort, Lau Caspar Thygesen, Harald Aschauer, Diego De Leo, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Objective: To identify the COVID-19 impact on well-being/mental health, coping strategies and risk factors in adolescent worldwide. Method: Anonymous online multi-national/language survey in the general population (representative/weighted non-representative samples, 14-17years), measuring change in well-being (WHO-5/range=0-100) and psychopathology (validated composite P-score/range=0-100), WHO-5 <50 and <29, pre- versus during COVID-19 pandemic (26/04/2020-26/06/2022). Coping strategies, nine a-priori defined individual/cumulative risk factors were measured. χ2, penalized cubic splines, linear regression, and correlation analyses were conducted. Results: Analyzing 8,115 of 8,762 initiated surveys (representative=75.1%), the pre-pandemic WHO-5 and P-score remained stable during the study (excluding relevant recall bias/drift), but worsened intra-pandemic by 5.55±17.13 (standard deviation) and 6.74±16.06 points, respectively (effect size d=0.27 and d=0.28). The proportion of adolescents with WHO-5 scores suggesting depression screening (<50) and major depression (<29) increased from 9% to 17% and 2% to 6%. WHO-5 worsened (descending magnitude, with cumulative effect) in adolescents with a mental or physical disorder, female gender, and with school closure. Results were similar for P-score, with the exception of school closure (not significant) and living in a low-income country, as well as not living in a large city (significant). Changes were significantly but minimally related to COVID-19 deaths/restrictions, returning to near-pre-pandemic values after >2 years. The three most subjectively effective coping strategies were internet use, exercise/walking, and social contacts. Conclusion: Overall, well-being/mental health worsened (small effect sizes) during early stages of COVID-19, especially in vulnerable subpopulations. Identified at-risk groups, association with pandemic-related measures, and coping strategies can inform individual behaviours and global public health strategies.
Keywords: Covid-19, pandemic, survey, WHO-5, P-factor, well-being, mental health, psychiatry, adolescents
Published in RUP: 12.09.2025; Views: 479; Downloads: 4
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