P0169 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescent Wellness

Background: There is extensive research highlighting the occurrence in the adolescent period of biological development and psychosocial maturation. In support of this overall growth, it is necessary to maintain wellness. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying which factors in adolescent wellness are most impacted, will allow Pediatricians to develop relevant tools to continue effective adolescent care.

Objective: To compare levels of wellness in adolescent students enrolled in a program aimed to improve health education in Chicago, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The 20-item survey was developed by physicians and researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Appropriate Institutional Review Board Approval was obtained for this study. The survey was disseminated to the 95 students enrolled in the program prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., and once during the pandemic. They were asked to rate the items pertaining to their wellness in the past week on a scale of 1-10. Questions explored overall wellness, including student academic, social, physical and creative ability, and also assessed feelings in the past week about factors such as balance, health, imagination, finances, growth mindset, family, friends and goals. Descriptive statistics and changes from time 1 to time 2 taking the survey were assessed.

Results: Of the 95 students enrolled in the program, 55 students completed the survey at both time points. Of those who completed the survey, 18.18% identified as White, 20% Black, 43.64% Hispanic, 18.18% Asian, 1.81% American Indian/Alaskan Native and 1.81% Other. The cohort of respondents were between ages 14 to 17, were mostly Sophomores 22% and Juniors 25%, and the majority of respondents identified as Female 81.82%. After taking the wellness survey before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, students had statistically significant decreases in scores on the following items: Balance (Felt like you devoted appropriate amounts of time to all the important areas of your life) (Pre: 7.31, During: 6.36, p = 0.022), Education (Learned something valuable or interesting) (Pre: 8.44, During 7.65, p = 0.029) and Friends (Spent quality time with friends) (Pre: 7.96, During: 6.27, p = 0.00018).

Conclusion: These results suggest decreases in the students’ levels of wellness from before the COVID-19 outbreak to during the pandemic, particularly with regard to maintaining balance in their daily lives, education within and outside school and friendships as they develop social maturity. More research is needed to understand further how this outbreak has impacted adolescent wellness, and to identify how Pediatricians may ameliorate this negative impact while providing well-child care.