Background: It is unclear if COVID-19 measurements affect adolescent with a history of Childhood Aversity (CA) more than other adolescents. It is important to find out, because CA already predicts...Show moreBackground: It is unclear if COVID-19 measurements affect adolescent with a history of Childhood Aversity (CA) more than other adolescents. It is important to find out, because CA already predicts more risk for psychological problems such as depression. CA can also have an impact on the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to less or more depressive symptoms. Research is needed to find out if CA and cortisol can be of risk for developing depression after lockdown due to COVID-19 or if adolescents will be resilient to these kinds of stressors. Method: The sample consisted of 89 adolescents with a history of CA, recruited through an earlier study named Resilience after Individual Stress Exposure (RAISE). The adolescents filled in two questionnaires: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Mood and feelings questionnaire (MFQ). They also performed an fMRI stress task (MIST) where prior to this test blood was contained for measurement of cortisol. After the first lockdown of COVID-19 the MFQ was filled in again. Results: The results stated that after the lockdown the depression symptoms were increased (Z = 4,122, p < .001). But threat and deprivation (both CA) were not predictors of cortisol (threat: b = -.214, t (87) = -200, p = .842, deprivation: b = .316, t (87) = .2523, p = .801). Cortisol did not have mediation effect between threat/deprivation and changes in depression symptoms (threat: 95% CI [-.017,.026], deprivation: 95% CI [-.037,.031]). And lastly only threat was a predictor for changes in depression symptoms (b = .255, t (87) = 2.3863, p = .019). Discussion: This research has proved that there is an increase in depressive symptoms after the first lockdown in April of the year 2020. Secondly, history of threat and deprivation are not predictors of cortisollevels in the adolescence. Third, cortisol did not play a mediation role between CA (threat/deprivation) and depressive symptoms. Lastly, threat predicts depressive symptoms after the lockdown. In future similar situations, to prevent development of (more) depressive symptoms that may lead to depression disorder, extra support for adolescents, especially with history of threat, is needed.Show less
Background: The measures concerning COVID-19 may increase Mental Health problems and decrease Friendship Quality. It is unclear how the measures around COVID-19 affect adolescents who are already...Show moreBackground: The measures concerning COVID-19 may increase Mental Health problems and decrease Friendship Quality. It is unclear how the measures around COVID-19 affect adolescents who are already at risk of Mental Health problems and who benefit from good Friendship Quality; adolescents with a history of childhood adversity (CA). Research is required to see how Mental Health and Friendship Quality possibly changes during the COVID-19-pandemic. Insight into this relationship can contribute to the improvement of care for adolescents with CA who struggle with Mental Health problems and Quality of Friendship. Methods: We recruited adolescents (N = 76, M_age= 22,41, SD = 2,68)who have experienced CA from the Resilience after Individual Stress Exposure(RAISE) which filled in a questionnaire before the lockdown(October 2019), in the first lockdown(April 2020) and during the relaxation of the COVID-19-measures(July 2020). The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire(MFQ) measured Mental Health and the Cambridge Friendship Questionnaire(CFQ) measured Friendship Quality. Results: The findings confirmed that Friendship Quality increased between October 2019 and April 2020(1, 70) = 8,032 p = .006). Also between October 2019 and July 2020 the Friendship Quality increased (F(1, 70) = 4,757, p = .033). Mental Health problems increased during the lockdown April 2020 and during the relaxation from the measures in July 2020 compared to October 2019 (oct-apr:F(1, 70)=6,595, p=.012; oct-jul: F(1, 70)=8,289, p= .005). Friendship and Mental Health interconnect with each other; adolescents with improved Friendship Quality between October 2019 and April 2020 and between October 2019 and July 2020 also have increased Mental Health during this periods (oct-apr: β=.301; t(71) =2.608; p=.011; oct-jul: β=.418; t(72)=3.731; p<.001). Conclusions: The increased Quality of Friendship could be caused by the use of social media to keep in touch with friends. CA is a risk factor to develop mental health problems and so is COVID-19. Therefore, it is not unlikely that mental health decreases during lockdown and relaxations. The mental health problems are not solved when there are more relaxations, this could be caused by the long waiting lists for receiving mental health care and suggests that the mental health problems are long-lasting. When friendships improve, mental health problems decrease. This indicates that friendship increases the resilience of adolescents.Show less
