A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating Canadian and Australian Adolescents' Perceived Experiences of COVID-19: Gender Differences and Mental Health Implications

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Marie, Riana;Journault, Audrey-Ann;Cernik, Rebecca;Welch, Paul;Lupien, Sonia;McDermott, Brett;Moxon, Joseph V.;Sarnyai, Zoltan
Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic has been associated with adverse psychological outcomes. This cross-cultural study (N = 1326, 71% female) aimed to investigate Canadian and Australian adolescents’ subjective experiences of COVID-19, gender differences, and psychological implications. Mixed-methods analyses were used to examine differences in COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes between country and gender in a Canadian (N = 913, 78% fe-male) and an Australian sample (N = 413, 57% female) of adolescents. Canadian adolescents reported increased COVID-19 discussions and more concerns related to their COVID-19 experiences compared to Australian adolescents. Girls consistently reported more concerns related to COVID-19 and poorer psychological outcomes compared to boys. School lockdown for the Canadian sample may have played a role in these country differences. Further, girls might be at significantly more risk for mental health concerns during COVID-19, which should be considered in adolescent mental health initiatives during the pandemic. Although school disruption and separation of peers due to the pandemic likely have a role in adolescent perceived stressors and mental health, the differences between Canadian and Australian adolescents were less clear and future investigations comparing more objective pre-COVID-19 data to current data are needed.

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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Volume

19

ISBN/ISSN

1660-4601

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Issue

7

Pages Count

14

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Publisher

Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)

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DOI

10.3390/ijerph19074407