COVID-19 Stressors and Latinx Adolescents' Mental Health Symptomology and School Performance: A Prospective Study

Authors

Kathleen M. Roche, Department of Prevention & Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20052, USA. kroche@gwu.edu.
David M. Huebner, Department of Prevention & Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Sharon F. Lambert, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Todd D. Little, Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership and Counseling, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2022

Journal

Journal of youth and adolescence

Volume

51

Issue

6

DOI

10.1007/s10964-022-01603-7

Keywords

COVID-19; Internalizing and externalizing; Latinx adolescents; School performance; Stressors

Abstract

This study addressed the need for research examining impacts of the Coronavirus-19 (COVID) pandemic on Latinx adolescents' adjustment. Survey data for a probability sample of 547 Latinx adolescents (M = 13.71, SD = 0.86; 55.2% female) were collected from 2018 to 2021, including two times both prior to, and during, COVID. Independent variables assessed COVID-related household hospitalization, job/income loss, and adolescents' increased childcare responsibility. Structural Equation Model results indicated that COVID-related increases in adolescent childcare responsibility were associated with increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms and declines in school performance. COVID hospitalization and job/income loss were associated indirectly, through childcare responsibilities, to worse adolescent outcomes. Family adversities may harm adolescents' adjustment by burdening adolescents with responsibilities such caring for children.

APA Citation

Roche, Kathleen M.; Huebner, David M.; Lambert, Sharon F.; and Little, Todd D., "COVID-19 Stressors and Latinx Adolescents' Mental Health Symptomology and School Performance: A Prospective Study" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 712.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/712

Department

Prevention and Community Health