(PS9-C71) Are Some Ways of Coping with covid-19 Related Stress Better Than Others? coping Strategies, Covid-related Stress, and Internalizing Symptoms in a Clinical Sample of Youth (13-18 Years)

Covid-19 infection control restrictions were implemented in Norway from March 2020 to February 2022. Some restrictions, such as the lockdown of schools and leisure activities, were aimed at reducing social contact between youth. Concurrently referral rates to specialized mental health services for youth increased by 25-50%, with high rates of internalizing problems (i.e., anxiety and depression) suggesting considerable suffering among youth during the pandemic. Thus, knowledge is warranted on how to help youth to cope better with pandemic stress, as well as to assist health personnel in more successful prevention of mental health problems among youth in future pandemics.   

The present study examines youth referred to specialized mental health services across nine outpatient clinics in Norway between October 2020 and September 2021, a period with extensive infection control restrictions. Youth between 13 and 18 years referred for internalizing problems were invited to participate. A total of 834 referrals were eligible for inclusion, with 779 invited to participate. Among these 235 referrals (either youth, parent, or both) accepted the invitation, comprising 179 youth (Mean age 15.79, 56.8% male) and 139 parents. Questionnaires on anxiety (SCAS; Spence, 1998), depressive symptoms (SMFQ; Angold et al., 1995), and Covid-related stress and coping (“Responses to stress questionnaire; RSQ; Connor-Smith et al., 2000) were completed electronically.

Covid-related stress most frequently reported by the youth was related to infection restrictions, e.g., 108 youth (68%) reported having had to change, postpone, or cancel important plans or events. Also, 71% (n=113) of youth reported being unsure about when COVID-19 would end or what would happen in the future. A lower percentage reported being worried about themselves or someone close to them getting the covid-infection (34%, n= 55).

Coping strategies applied were associated with how much covid-related stress the youth reported, as well as level of internalizing symptoms. Using primary (changing the situation or one’s emotions) and secondary coping strategies (adapting to the situation) was associated with less Covid-19 related stress (r=-.26, p< .01 and r=-.42, p< .01), lower level of anxiety (r=-.35, p< .01 and r=-.35, p< .01) and less depressive symptoms (r=-.33, p< .01 and r=-.48, p< .01). However, strategies of involuntary engagement (e.g., physiological arousal) or disengagement coping (e.g., numbing), was associated with more Covid-19 related stress (r=.41, p< .01 and r=.29, p</em>< .01), higher levels of anxiety (r=.38, p< .01 and r=.21, p< .05) and more depressive symptoms (r=.31, p</em>< .01 and r=.40, p< .01). Also, youth reporting disengagement coping (e.g., avoidance) had more depressive symptoms (r=.29, p< .01). Predictors of the coping strategies will be examined and included in the poster.

The study does not allow for conclusions about the direction of effects between coping, Covid-19 related stress, and internalizing symptoms. However, the findings suggest that assisting youth referred to specialized mental health treatment in developing more voluntary engagement strategies to cope with pandemic-related stress could contribute to improvement in their internalizing symptoms.