Adolescent help-seeking during a global crisis

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Abstract

Seeking psychological help is a protective factor for adolescent mental health; it has become especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined help-seeking among adolescents before and during the pandemic in relation to common internalizing and externalizing problems, body image and eating distress, suicidality and substance use, taking into account gender, age and school environment. The sample included 1008 adolescents assessed in 2015–2018 and 917 adolescents assessed in 2021 (53.1% girls, average age 14.6 years). Statistical analyses used contingency tables, analysis of variance, and structural equation modeling. During the pandemic, adolescents began to seek psychological help more often. Girls reported help-seeking more often than boys; the prevalence of help-seeking in girls increased with age. Аdolescent internalizing problems were most closely related to help-seeking. Suicidality was also associated with help-seeking, mainly among girls and during the pandemic. Externalizing, body dissatisfaction and substance use had little or no association with help-seeking. Adolescents most often sought help from relatives; adolescents with high suicidality sought help from a psychologist, and others (coach in sports, friend, internet, etc.). During the pandemic, adolescents were more likely to seek help from a teacher; girls were more likely to seek help from a psychologist. Substance use was associated with help-seeking from a teacher. School environment was a significant factor in predicting help-seeking. Intervention programmes that focus on promoting help-seeking should take into account adolescent mental health problems and school environment.

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About the authors

E. V. Rezun

Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: rezunev@neuronm.ru

Junior researcher

Russian Federation, 630117, Novosibirsk, Timakova str., 4

H. R. Slobodskaya

Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine

Email: slobodskayaer@neuronm.ru

ScD (Psychology), Principal Research Scientist

Russian Federation, 630117, Novosibirsk, Timakova str., 4

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2. Fig. 1. Model 1. Statistical model of the relationship between adolescent mental health problems, gender, age, pandemic, and school environment and help-seeking. Standardized factor loadings are given; * — p < 0.05, ** — p < 0.01, *** — p < 0.001.

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3. Fig. 2. Model 2. Statistical model of the relationship between adolescent mental health problems, gender, age, pandemic, and school environment with seeking help. Reliable standardized parameters are given; * — p < 0.05, ** — p < 0.01, *** — p < 0.001.

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