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Social anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese left-behind children after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown: A network analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Kuiliang Li
  • Lei Ren
  • Lei Zhang
  • Chang Liu
  • Mengxue Zhao
  • Xiaoqing Zhan
  • Ling Li
  • Xi Luo
  • Zhengzhi Feng

Abstract

Background: Returning to social life after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown may increase risk of social anxiety, which is highly co-morbid with depression. However, few studies have reported the association between them. Aims: To explore the complex relationship between social anxiety and depression symptoms in left-behind children after the lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted 6 months after the lockdown removal. A total of 3,107 left-behind children completed the survey with a mean age of 13.33 and a response rate of 87.77%. Depression and social anxiety severity were assessed by the DSM-5 Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents and the DSM-5 Social Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, respectively. The symptom-level association between the two disorders was examined using network analysis. Results: After the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown, the prevalence of depression and social anxiety in left-behind children was 19.57% and 12.36%, respectively, with a co-morbidity rate of 8.98%. Network analysis showed that “Social tension†and “Social avoidance†had the greatest expected influence; “Humiliation†and “Motor†were bridge symptom nodes in the network. The directed acyclic graph indicated that “Social fright†was at the upstream of all symptoms. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to social anxiety symptoms in left-behind children after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown. Prevention and intervention measures should be taken promptly to reduce the comorbidity of social anxiety and depression symptoms in the left-behind children after the lifting of lockdown.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuiliang Li & Lei Ren & Lei Zhang & Chang Liu & Mengxue Zhao & Xiaoqing Zhan & Ling Li & Xi Luo & Zhengzhi Feng, 2023. "Social anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese left-behind children after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown: A network analysis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(4), pages 916-927, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:4:p:916-927
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640221141784
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    References listed on IDEAS

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