The COVID-19 pandemic had a greater impact on boys’ mental health than girls, contrary to the findings of other studies, according to new research.
These findings could have a significant impact on referral of adolescents to mental health services and on diagnoses, and greater awareness of age-related changes in mental health symptoms is needed by clinicians, educators and parents, say researchers.
The study was led by scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Reading, University of Liverpool and King’s College London.
Researchers used their unique dataset with repeated measurement pre and during the pandemic, and, crucially, took into account the developmental differences in symptoms between boys and girls aged 11-14 years.
According to the study, initial reports of a pandemic-related increase in depression in young adolescent girls could be explained by a natural rise in these symptoms as they get older. In contrast, pandemic-related increases in boys’ depression and both boys’ and girls’ behavioural problems may have been masked by maturational changes over early adolescence.
The team was able to draw the conclusions using the unique longitudinal dataset: Wirral Child Health and Development Study (WCHADS).
The study was also unique in capturing reports on depression in young adolescents’ health from the parents and self-reports from the children themselves at this key stage. This indicated an over-reporting of a pandemic effect on girls’ symptoms of depression by parents, while under-reporting the pandemic effect on boys.
Lead author Dr Nicky Wright, a Lecturer in Psychology at Manchester Met, said: “Because of the general decrease in boys’ depression with age, and the general messaging about the impact of the pandemic being greater on girls, it is likely that boys’ mental health needs are being missed, but also there may be more referrals for boys than will be anticipated.
Professor Helen Sharp, Professor of Perinatal and Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, added: “We have identified significant changes in the pattern of mental health needs of young people due to the pandemic. Our study revealed adverse effects of the pandemic, with increases in behavioural problems in both boys and girls and increased depression symptoms in adolescent boys in particular. Emotional difficulties may not be recognised easily by parents or schools. However, raised awareness should help ensure more young people are directed to sources of support and treatment.”
