Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in Times of Global Crises: Findings from the Longitudinal COPSY Study from 2020 to 2024

Abstract

Background: The mental health of children and adolescents is increasingly affected by a range of global crises, including climate change, pandemics, wars, and economic instability. These challenges coincide with a critical stage in their development, making this population particularly vulnerable. This longitudinal, population-based study aimed to explore changes in youth mental health during global crises and examine the impact of crisis-related fears on their mental health. 

Methods: The study analyzed data from 2,865 families with children and adolescents aged 7 to 22 years (including 1,967 self-reports) who participated in at least one wave of the COPSY study from May 2020 (T1) to October 2024 (T7). Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analyses were used to examine changes in HRQoL and mental health between 2017 and 2024 as well as the specific effects of crisis-related worries, fears about the future and digital media use. 

Results: HRQoL and mental health of children and adolescents were significantly impaired at the beginning of the pandemic, improved again in the following years, but remained at an elevated level in fall 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Children and adolescents with pronounced fears about the future were particularly affected. At the same time, concerns about wars, terrorism, economic crises and the climate crisis have increased significantly. Risk factors such as low parental education and parental mental health problems were associated with poorer mental health, while personal, familial and social resources had a protective effect and were associated with a lower risk of psychological stress. A high level of media consumption was documented, which is associated with stressful experiences in some of the children and adolescents. 

Conclusion: The cumulative impact of global crises poses significant challenges to the mental health of children and adolescents. Targeted prevention and intervention efforts are urgently needed to help young people navigate these crises and mitigate their psychological effects.