AUTHOR=Güzelsoy Neslihan , Ravens-Sieberer Ulrike , Westenhöfer Joachim , Devine Janine , Erhart Michael , Hölling Heike , Kaman Anne 

TITLE=Risks and Resources for Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Results of the Longitudinal COPSY Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.901783

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.901783

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic is of particularly high relevance. Especially for children and adolescents, the pandemic and its restrictions represent a significant burden. The present study aims to identify risks and resources for depressive symptoms and anxiety in children and adolescents during the pandemic in Germany.
Methods: Self-reported data from the first wave of the longitudinal COPSY study were used to investigate risks and resources among n = 811 children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 years. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were measured at the first follow-up six months later. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the effects of risks and resources on depressive symptoms and anxiety. 
Results: Parental depressive symptoms predicted depressive symptoms and anxiety in children and adolescents six months later. Female gender was identified as a risk factor for anxiety during the pandemic. None of the potential resources were associated with depressive symptoms or anxiety at the follow-up.
Conclusions: The findings provide evidence of risk factors for depressive symptoms and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and adolescents who face risk factors need to be identified early and monitored during the pandemic. Family-based intervention programs are needed to help vulnerable children and adolescents cope with the challenges of the pandemic.