IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i15p8074-d604878.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Parental Stress on Italian Adolescents’ Internalizing Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Ziqin Liang

    (Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Claudia Mazzeschi

    (Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Elisa Delvecchio

    (Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

Abstract

The challenges and consequences of COVID-19 imposed massive changes in adolescents’ daily routines (e.g., school closures, home confinement, and social distancing rules), which impacted their mental health. This longitudinal study aimed to better understand the changes in adolescents’ internalizing symptoms and the underlying mechanisms of parental stress due to COVID-19. We asked 1053 parents of adolescents to complete an online survey during the second and fifth weeks and at the end of home confinement (i.e., four weeks later). Results showed that parents reported their adolescents’ anxiety and depression symptoms were more severe at Time 2 than at the first administration. Anxiety symptoms slightly decreased at Time 3, while there was no significant change in depression symptoms. Moreover, parents’ expressive suppression mediated the association between parental stress and adolescents’ anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. The findings suggest that as restriction increased, adolescents’ anxiety and depression became more severe. Moreover, due to the link between parental stress and adolescents’ internalizing disorders helping families to cope with the distress due to the pandemic may have a positive impact on parents, the child, and the family as a whole (i.e., the family climate).

Suggested Citation

  • Ziqin Liang & Claudia Mazzeschi & Elisa Delvecchio, 2021. "The Impact of Parental Stress on Italian Adolescents’ Internalizing Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8074-:d:604878
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/8074/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/8074/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li, Yumei & Duan, Wenjie & Chen, Zheng, 2020. "Latent profiles of the comorbidity of the symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder among children and adolescents who are susceptible to COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Hong Yan Li & Hui Cao & Doris Y. P. Leung & Yim Wah Mak, 2020. "The Psychological Impacts of a COVID-19 Outbreak on College Students in China: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Markus Stracke & Miriam Heinzl & Anne Dorothee Müller & Kristin Gilbert & Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup & Jean Lillian Paul & Hanna Christiansen, 2023. "Mental Health Is a Family Affair—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Associations between Mental Health Problems in Parents and Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Marina Everri & Mattia Messena & Finiki Nearchou & Laura Fruggeri, 2022. "Parent–Child Relationships, Digital Media Use and Parents’ Well-Being during COVID-19 Home Confinement: The Role of Family Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Verena Barbieri & Christian Josef Wiedermann & Anne Kaman & Michael Erhart & Giuliano Piccoliori & Barbara Plagg & Angelika Mahlknecht & Dietmar Ausserhofer & Adolf Engl & Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, 2022. "Quality of Life and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents after the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Large Population-Based Survey in South Tyrol, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Gina Ionela Butnaru & Alina-Petronela Haller & Larisa-Loredana Dragolea & Alexandru Anichiti & Georgia-Daniela Tacu Hârșan, 2021. "Students’ Wellbeing during Transition from Onsite to Online Education: Are There Risks Arising from Social Isolation?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Barbara Forresi & Ludovica Giani & Simona Scaini & Giampaolo Nicolais & Marcella Caputi, 2023. "The Mediation of Care and Overprotection between Parent-Adolescent Conflicts and Adolescents’ Psychological Difficulties during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Which Role for Fathers?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rosa Bosch & Mireia Pagerols & Raquel Prat & Gemma Español-Martín & Cristina Rivas & Montserrat Dolz & Josep Maria Haro & Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga & Marta Ribasés & Miquel Casas, 2022. "Changes in the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Associated Factors and Life Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Christoph Lindner & Ibolya Kotta & Eszter Eniko Marschalko & Kinga Szabo & Kinga Kalcza-Janosi & Jan Retelsdorf, 2022. "Increased Risk Perception, Distress Intolerance and Health Anxiety in Stricter Lockdowns: Self-Control as a Key Protective Factor in Early Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Md. Abdur Rouf, 2022. "Impact of Consumers’ Buying Behavior on Luxurious Goods during COVID 19," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 16(1), pages 59-68.
    4. Lucía del Río-Casanova & Milagrosa Sánchez-Martín & Ana García-Dantas & Anabel González-Vázquez & Ania Justo, 2021. "Psychological Responses According to Gender during the Early Stage of COVID-19 in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Xi Wang & Yuntao Zou, 2023. "Psychological Research of College Students Based on Online Education under COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Ruoshi Zhang & Weiyue Duan & Zhikai Zheng, 2024. "Multimodal Quantitative Research on the Emotional Attachment Characteristics between People and the Built Environment Based on the Immersive VR Eye-Tracking Experiment," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-27, January.
    7. Jialu Shi & Xuan Wang & Fuyi Ci & Kai Liu, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Patterns of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: An Empirical Study Based on 413 Cities or Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    8. Matthew J. Savage & Philip J. Hennis & Daniele Magistro & James Donaldson & Laura C. Healy & Ruth M. James, 2021. "Nine Months into the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study Showing Mental Health and Movement Behaviours Are Impaired in UK Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.
    9. Alina Butu & Ioan Sebastian Brumă & Lucian Tanasă & Steliana Rodino & Codrin Dinu Vasiliu & Sebastian Doboș & Marian Butu, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Crisis upon the Consumer Buying Behavior of Fresh Vegetables Directly from Local Producers. Case Study: The Quarantined Area of Suceava County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-25, July.
    10. Gianluca Lo Coco & Ambra Gentile & Ksenija Bosnar & Ivana Milovanović & Antonino Bianco & Patrik Drid & Saša Pišot, 2021. "A Cross-Country Examination on the Fear of COVID-19 and the Sense of Loneliness during the First Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.
    11. Sean G. Young, 2023. "Hidden Costs of the COVID-19 Pandemic Response," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-7, April.
    12. Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir & Ingibjorg E. Thorisdottir & Haukur Freyr Gylfason, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: The Role of Locus on Control and Internet Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
    13. Dina Di Giacomo & Alessandra Martelli & Federica Guerra & Federica Cielo & Jessica Ranieri, 2021. "Mediator Effect of Affinity for E-Learning on Mental Health: Buffering Strategy for the Resilience of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, July.
    14. Annunziata Romeo & Agata Benfante & Lorys Castelli & Marialaura Di Tella, 2021. "Psychological Distress among Italian University Students Compared to General Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-8, March.
    15. Hu, Tao & Wang, Ying & Lin, Ling & Tang, Wanjie, 2021. "The mediating role of daytime sleepiness between problematic smartphone use and post-traumatic symptoms in COVID-19 home-refined adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    16. Stephen X. Zhang & Hao Huang & Jizhen Li & Mayra Antonelli-Ponti & Scheila Farias de Paiva & José Aparecido da Silva, 2021. "Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Brazil during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    17. Marium Aftab & Alsaleem Mohammed Abadi & Shamsun Nahar & Razia Aftab Ahmed & Syed Esam Mahmood & Manik Madaan & Ausaf Ahmad, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Medical Students’ Learning Process and Assaults Their Psychological Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    18. Gerardo Gómez-García & Magdalena Ramos-Navas-Parejo & Juan-Carlos de la Cruz-Campos & Carmen Rodríguez-Jiménez, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on University Students: An Analysis of Its Influence on Psychological and Academic Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    19. Liliana Dumitrache & Elena Stănculescu & Mariana Nae & Daniela Dumbrăveanu & Gabriel Simion & Ana Maria Taloș & Alina Mareci, 2021. "Post-Lockdown Effects on Students’ Mental Health in Romania: Perceived Stress, Missing Daily Social Interactions, and Boredom Proneness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    20. Nelson C. Y. Yeung & Bishan Huang & Christine Y. K. Lau & Joseph T. F. Lau, 2020. "Feeling Anxious amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychosocial Correlates of Anxiety Symptoms among Filipina Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8074-:d:604878. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.