Adolescent Mental Health, Connectedness, and Mode of School Instruction During COVID-19

Abstract Background Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, nearly 93% of US students engaged in some distance learning. These school disruptions may negatively influence adolescent mental health. Protective factors, like feeling connected to family or school may demonstrate a buffering effect, potentially moderating negative mental health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to test our hypothesis that mode of school instruction influences mental health and determine if school and family connectedness attenuates these relationships. Methods The COVID Experiences Survey was administered online or via telephone October –November 2020 to adolescents ages 13-19 using NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, a probability-based panel recruited using random address-based sampling with mail and telephone non-response follow-up. The final sample included 567 adolescents in grades 7-12 who received virtual, in person, or combined instruction. Unadjusted and adjusted associations among four mental health outcomes and instruction mode were measured, and associations with school and family connectedness were explored for protective effects. Results Students attending school virtually reported poorer mental health than students attending in-person. Adolescents receiving virtual instruction reported more mentally unhealthy days, more persistent symptoms of depression, and a greater likelihood of seriously considering attempting suicide than students in other modes of instruction. After demographic adjustments school and family connectedness each mitigated the association between virtual vs. in-person instruction for all four mental health indicators. Conclusion As hypothesized, mode of school instruction was associated with mental health outcomes, with adolescents receiving in-person instruction reporting the lowest prevalence of negative mental health indicators. School and family connectedness may play a critical role in buffering negative mental health outcomes.