Adolescent resilience in the face of COVID-19 stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors

Lu Zhang; Vanessa L. Cropley; Sarah Whittle; Divyangana Rakesh

doi:10.1017/S0033291724001806

Adolescent resilience in the face of COVID-19 stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors

Lu Zhang^*, Vanessa L. Cropley, Sarah Whittle^*, Divyangana Rakesh

^*Corresponding author for this work

Neuroimaging

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to subsequent stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there are protective factors that promote resilience against the negative impacts of COVID-19 stressors in adolescents with prior trauma exposure. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors. Methods. Aims were investigated in a sample of 9696 adolescents (mean age 12.85 ± 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine (a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed v. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and (b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and improvements in family and peer relationships) in these associations. Results. There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Improvements in family and peer relationships mitigated the association between COVID-19 stressors and poor mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience. Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future stressors. Results underscore the protective role of enhanced social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experiences.

Original language	English
Journal	Psychological Medicine
Early online date	14 Oct 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291724001806
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 14 Oct 2024

Keywords

adolescent mental health
COVID-19 pandemic
protective factors
stressors
trauma

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title = "Adolescent resilience in the face of COVID-19 stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors",

abstract = "Background. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to subsequent stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there are protective factors that promote resilience against the negative impacts of COVID-19 stressors in adolescents with prior trauma exposure. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors. Methods. Aims were investigated in a sample of 9696 adolescents (mean age 12.85 ± 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine (a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed v. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and (b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and improvements in family and peer relationships) in these associations. Results. There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Improvements in family and peer relationships mitigated the association between COVID-19 stressors and poor mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience. Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future stressors. Results underscore the protective role of enhanced social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experiences.",

keywords = "adolescent mental health, COVID-19 pandemic, protective factors, stressors, trauma",

author = "Lu Zhang and Cropley, {Vanessa L.} and Sarah Whittle and Divyangana Rakesh",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press.",

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AU - Zhang, Lu

AU - Cropley, Vanessa L.

AU - Whittle, Sarah

AU - Rakesh, Divyangana

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press.

PY - 2024/10/14

Y1 - 2024/10/14

N2 - Background. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to subsequent stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there are protective factors that promote resilience against the negative impacts of COVID-19 stressors in adolescents with prior trauma exposure. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors. Methods. Aims were investigated in a sample of 9696 adolescents (mean age 12.85 ± 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine (a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed v. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and (b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and improvements in family and peer relationships) in these associations. Results. There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Improvements in family and peer relationships mitigated the association between COVID-19 stressors and poor mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience. Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future stressors. Results underscore the protective role of enhanced social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experiences.

AB - Background. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to subsequent stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there are protective factors that promote resilience against the negative impacts of COVID-19 stressors in adolescents with prior trauma exposure. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors. Methods. Aims were investigated in a sample of 9696 adolescents (mean age 12.85 ± 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine (a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed v. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and (b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and improvements in family and peer relationships) in these associations. Results. There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Improvements in family and peer relationships mitigated the association between COVID-19 stressors and poor mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience. Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future stressors. Results underscore the protective role of enhanced social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experiences.

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JO - Psychological Medicine

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Adolescent resilience in the face of COVID-19 stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors

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