The Mental Health of Adolescents: Pandemic Challenges and Protective/Risk Factors

Aim: Adolescent mental health has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and aggravated or mitigated by risk and protective factors. This study aims to analyze the risk and protective factors of adolescent mental health and well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic based on review of the scientific literature. Materials and Methods: A literature review was conducted, including 46 articles with reported research data on adolescent populations across all 6 continents. Results: Analysis was based on the criteria risk or protective factor, individual (I) or environmental (E) level factor, and general (G) or specific (S) to COVID-19 factor. Risk factors included: female sex, older age, negative coping, and prior mental health diagnosis or chronic condition (IG factors); COVID-19 fear, and excessive information about COVID-19 (IS factors); low socioeconomic status, single-caregiver family, poor family functioning, family and domestic violence, excessive online time, and prior adversities (EG factors); COVID-19 exposure, and school closure and remote education (ES factors). Protective factors included: male sex, younger age, resilience and positive coping, physical activity, and consistent routine (IG factors); knowledge and information about COVID-19 (IS factor); positive family re- lationships, and social support (EG factors). Conclusion: The findings support future pandemic preparedness and mental health interventions aimed at mitigating nega- tive effects on adolescent mental health by focusing on general risk and protective factors early in crises, while building on COVID-19-specific insights into adolescents’ emotional and cognitive responses to identify and address challenges posed by novel pathogens or other types of crises.