The impacts of Covid-19 pandemics on the mental and social well-being of Hungarian schoolchildren
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: According to quantitative and qualitative data collected during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, the mental health of young people has been adversely impacted in this period. Older adolescents, girls, children from low affluence families or young people with chronic (mental) illnesses are more likely to report even worse mental health indicators.
METHODS: We conducted our analyses on the Hungarian nationally representative samples of Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, a WHO-collaborated cross-national study. We illustrate the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic using descriptive statistics among 5–9 graders on the 2022 dataset (N = 4 738). In addition, we compare variables of mental and social well-being between 2018 and 2022 by age group and present the trends of the variables over time by gender.
RESULTS: Most students (42.7–49.7%) reported that the Covid-19 pandemic had a neutral impact on their whole life, health, mental health, and family and peer relations. However, the rate of those who reported that the pandemic had negative consequences is higher (28.2–36.7%), than those who reported about positive impacts (28.2–36.7%). Young people reported slightly lower life satisfaction after pandemic and fewer rated their health as excellent than before. Lower rate of students reported about high family and peer support, the prevalence of those with multiple health complaints has increased compared to the previous data collections. Girls and older adolescents (9th grade) are more likely to report less favourable mental health indicators.
CONCLUSIONS: Even though the pandemic crisis in itself provided an opportunity to experience personal growth and higher family cohesion, in the case of Hungarian youth, the disadvantages perceived outweighed these potential advantages. The results are certainly arguments for capacity building of child and adolescent mental health services, regular data collection, the development of comprehensive health promotion programs, and as well as a comprehensive, age-specific (mental) health strategy.
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