Adolescent Lifestyle Behaviors, Coping Strategies and Subjective Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Student Survey
Adolescence represents a critical period for rapid psychophysical and socio-cognitive changes, with implications for health and wellbeing in later life. From this perspective, the manifestation of unhealthy lifestyles and dysfunctional behaviors may reflect a change in wellbeing requiring alertness...
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| Published in: | Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 8; no. 4; p. 472 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Switzerland
MDPI AG
09-11-2020
MDPI |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Adolescence represents a critical period for rapid psychophysical and socio-cognitive changes, with implications for health and wellbeing in later life. From this perspective, the manifestation of unhealthy lifestyles and dysfunctional behaviors may reflect a change in wellbeing requiring alertness and prompt intervention. This study investigated lifestyle behaviors and coping strategies among Italian adolescents, also in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and whether they would predict a change in subjective wellbeing.
In the period between 1 April and 10 April 2020, adolescents aged 15-21 filled out an online survey consisting of 33 questions investigating socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, coping strategies, and subjective wellbeing.
Data was available on 306 participants. Most adolescents planned their daily routine (57.8%), engaging in structured activities (17.6-67.3%) and developing new interests (54.6%), and gave a positive reading of the ongoing period (57.8%), thus revealing adaptive coping strategies. Family wise, even though it was hard to stay at home (66%) and difficulties emerged, including self-isolation (50.7%) and quarrels (31.7%), a relevant proportion of adolescents shared their feelings (40.5%) and revaluated their family relationships (29.4-39.7%). In terms of social and school engagement, almost all adolescents kept contacts with their partner, friends, and teachers (90.2-93.5%). School commitments at home were sufficiently preserved (63.1%), however adolescents expressed preoccupations about their educational path (56.2%). A change in subjective wellbeing (49.3%) and symptoms of anxiety (39.9%) were frequently reported. A number of factors predicted a change in subjective wellbeing, including adaptive coping strategies (physical activity, OR = 2.609, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.297-5.247; engaging in different activities than before, OR = 2.212, 95% CI 1.157-4.230), family issues (finding hard to stay at home, OR = 3.852, 95% CI 1.953-7.599; having quarrels, OR = 2.158, 95% CI 1.122-4.150), school-related behaviors (fearing a negative educational outcome, OR = 1.971, 95% 1.063-3.655), and female gender (OR = 3.647, 95% CI 1.694-7.851).
Both personal and environmental coping resources are relevant to subjective wellbeing in adolescence and should be taken into account for prevention and early intervention in youth mental health. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 2227-9032 2227-9032 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/healthcare8040472 |