Early Adolescent Predictors of Young Adults’ Distress and Adaptive Coping During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Findings From a Longitudinal Cohort Study

Bibliographic Data

ID11670707
AuthorsAnne Steinhoff (0000-0002-6260-4139, University of Zurich, corresponding author), Lydia Johnson‐Ferguson (0000-0003-3717-1332, University of Zurich), Lydia Johnson-Ferguson (University of Zurich), Laura Bechtiger (0000-0002-7049-2165, University of Zurich), Aja Louise Murray (0000-0002-9068-3188, University of Edinburgh), Aja Murray (University of Edinburgh), Urs Hepp (0000-0003-4260-5975, Meilen Institute Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland), Denis Ribeaud (0000-0002-1668-8319, University of Zurich), Manuel P Eisner (0000-0001-5436-9282, University of Zurich), Lilly Shanahan (0000-0002-4534-6924, University of Zurich)
Year2023
Volume44
Issue9
Pages1250-1280
Publication date2023-06-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Early Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-4316 • E-ISSN: 1552-5449
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/02724316231181660
PMID39372429
OpenAlexW4380150920
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited78

We examined early adolescent predictors of later distress and adaptive coping in early adulthood, using data from a prospective longitudinal cohort study ( n = 786). In early adolescence (age 13), we assessed indicators of mental health (internalizing symptoms), stressor exposure (cumulative stressful life events), and family socialization (supportive parent-child interactions). In early adulthood (age 22), during the first COVID-19-related Swiss national lockdown, we assessed cumulative pandemic-related stressors, distress (poor well-being, hopelessness, and perceived disruptions to life) and adaptive coping. Early adolescent internalizing symptoms predicted lower well-being, more hopelessness, and perceived lifestyle disruptions in early adulthood, during the pandemic. Cumulative stressful life events during early adolescence moderated the association between cumulative pandemic-related stressors and perceived lifestyle disruptions. Supportive parent-child interactions fostered subsequent engagement in adaptive coping, which, in turn, predicted less hopelessness and better well-being. Findings reveal that early adolescent development is linked with distress and adaptive coping in later periods

Cohort · Cohort study · Coping (psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Disease · Distress · Early adulthood · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Life course approach · Longitudinal study · Maladaptive coping · Mental health · Multilevel model · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Stressor · Young adult · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Family Support in Illness · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology

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