Problemas de salud mental en adolescentes chinos durante el COVID-19: importancia de la nutrición y la actividad física

Translated title of the contribution: Mental health problems among Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19: The importance of nutrition and physical activity

Xinli Chi, Kaixin Liang, Si Tong Chen, Qiaomin Huang, Liuyue Huang, Qian Yu, Can Jiao, Tianyou Guo, Brendon Stubbs, Md Mahbub Hossain, Albert Yeung, Zhaowei Kong, Liye Zou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background/Objective: Mental health problems are common among adolescents and greatly influenced by stressful events. This study sought to assess the prevalence and correlates of insomnia, depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19. Method: Cross-sectional study (N = 1794 adolescents, mean age = 15.26) was conducted in May 2020. An online survey was used to collect socio-demographic data, COVID-related fear (COVID-fear), nutrition, physical activity (PA) level and the symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety. Results: The prevalence of insomnia, depressive and anxiety symptoms was 37.80%, 48.20% and 36.70%, respectively, among Chinese adolescents during the pandemic. Generalized linear models revealed that female, left behind children, and students with greater COVID-fear tended to report symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety concurrently. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors and COVID-fear, better nutritional status and moderately active PA were both associated with lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, while highly active PA was associated with lower levels of insomnia, depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to psychological health among adolescents while combating COVID-19. To promote adolescents’ mental health, educators should help adolescents develop a healthy lifestyle with balanced diet and regular exercise.

Translated title of the contributionMental health problems among Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19: The importance of nutrition and physical activity
Original languageSpanish
Article number100218
JournalINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2021

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Descriptive survey study
  • Mental health
  • Nutrition
  • Physical activity

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