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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents during COVID-19

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

A. Marini ,
I. Farmakopoulou ,
M. Theodoratou ,
E. Gintoni  and
K. Chalkiopoulos
A. Marini
Affiliation:
1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical School, Athens
I. Farmakopoulou
Affiliation:
2Department of Educational and Social Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
M. Theodoratou*
Affiliation:
3Health Sciences, Neapolis University of Pafos, Pafos, Cyprus 4Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras
E. Gintoni
Affiliation:
5Psychology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 6Department of Science Management and Technology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
K. Chalkiopoulos
Affiliation:
6Department of Science Management and Technology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potential traumatic events that occur from birth to the end of adolescence (0-18 years), including various types of neglect, abuse and violence in a child’s domestic and community life. Experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is associated with the onset of anxiety in adolescence. According to recent studies, pandemic COVID-19 is a novel ACE that has been found to increase anxiety in adolescents.

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between ACEs and COVID-19 in the development of anxiety in adolescence

Methods

Α cross-sectional study was designed in a community sample of 248 adolescent boys and girls, aged 12 to 15 years (Mean: 13.5 years), from five High Schools in Eastern Attica. Four Questionnaires were used: 1) Demographic Questionnaire, 2) State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory for Children - STAIC, 3) Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, and 4) Impact of COVID-19 Questionnaire.

Results

The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the total number of ACEs and Anxiety (Trait and State) in adolescence (Trait Anxiety: rho=,37, p <0.001, State Anxiety: rho=,29, p<0.001).Girls scored significantly higher in Trait (U=4353, p <0.001) and State Anxiety (U=5822.5, p = 0.014), presenting higher anxiety compared to boys. Finally, a significant relationship was observed between the number of ACEs and the impact of COVID-19 (β=0.025, p <0.001).

Conclusions

The findings of the present study can be used to design and implement future effective, preventive and therapeutic programs for adolescents with anxiety symptoms, who have experienced the multitude of Adverse Childhood Experiences and the COVID-19 pandemic during their adolescence.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S205
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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