Socioeconomic hardship, uncertainty about the future, and adolescent mental wellbeing over a year during the Covid‐19 pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID12686284
AuthorsKayla Green (0000-0001-6962-4047, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands, corresponding author), Andrik Becht (0000-0002-1438-9550, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands), Suzanne van de Groep (0000-0001-6135-0053, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands), Renske van der Cruijsen (0000-0001-9194-8945, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands), Sophie W Sweijen (0000-0002-9960-0182, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands), Eveline A Crone (0000-0002-7508-6078, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands)
Year2023
Volume32
Issue3
Pages1092-1114
Publication date2023-03-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1467-9507 • E-ISSN: 0961-205X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sode.12674
OpenAlexW4323075383
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited97

Socioeconomic vulnerabilities put adolescents at risk for mental wellbeing issues, also in times of a pandemic. In the present longitudinal online survey study, we explored changes in mental wellbeing (i.e., mood and life satisfaction) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Second, we examined how socioeconomic hardship in online home schooling predicted adolescents’ mental wellbeing 1 year later. Third, we tested whether this relation was mediated by feelings of uncertainty about the future. Fourth, we tested whether this relation was moderated (in terms of a protective factor) by self‐efficacy. In total, 177 Dutch‐speaking adolescents aged 10–18 years ( M age = 15.64, SD age = 1.72, 79% females) participated in all three 6‐month separated waves (T1 = May 2020, T2 = November 2020, and T3 = May 2021). Mood results demonstrated that feelings of vigor decreased between T1 and T2, and feelings of tension and depression increased between T1, T2, and T3. Socioeconomic hardship in online home schooling in the early phase of the pandemic was negatively associated with both baseline mental wellbeing and 1 year later. Socioeconomic hardship at T1 predicted higher feelings of future uncertainty at T2, and higher levels of future uncertainty were associated with lower feelings of vigor, and higher feelings of tension and depression at T3. However, we found no evidence for mediation or moderation effects. In conclusion, the present findings illustrate the complexity of disentangling the adverse effects of socioeconomic hardship on adolescent mental wellbeing

Developmental psychology · Feeling · Mediation · Mental health · Moderation · Mood · Population · Psychiatry · Socioeconomic status · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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