In the face of adversity: promoting mental health and well-being among adversity-exposed adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Children and Adolescents

bright-navy

Research Updates

Updated January 2025
During the pandemic, adolescent anxiety and depression doubled globally, with rates of mental health distress remaining alarmingly high among Californian adolescents. Those who experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—traumatic events before age 18—faced a higher risk of developing mental health conditions. The risk was even greater for youth identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual who experience ACEs at higher rates. However, several interventions can protect adolescent mental health: parental involvement in schoolwork, in-person schooling and coping behaviors like meditation, sleep and exercise. Promoting these strategies can support recovery for youth with ACEs and better prepare Californians for future emergencies.

Publications

Proposed Research and Background

During the pandemic, adolescent anxiety and depression doubled globally, and rates of mental health distress remain unacceptably high among Californian adolescents. Of note, certain groups of adolescents were at higher risk of developing mental health conditions. Some studies have shown that youth who have experienced ACEs, discrimination and unsafe neighborhoods were at higher risk of developing a mental health condition during the pandemic than youth who had never experienced traumatic events. Pre-pandemic studies have shown that experiencing adversity and being from a racial or ethnic minority or being female further elevates a person’s risk of developing impaired mental health.

However, we need additional, detailed studies to better understand this relationship between childhood adversity and mental health and well-being among adolescents from varying racial/ethnic backgrounds and genders. In addition, many adolescents who have experienced significant adversity did not develop adolescent mental health conditions and instead reported high levels of emotional well-being. Initial studies have suggested that exercise, close relationships, and school engagement help protect mental health and promote resilience. We need large and detailed studies to establish whether this is true for adolescents from a variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds and across genders. Thus, through our project, we aim to understand:

the relationship between childhood adversity and mental health conditions and
resilience factors that promote mental health among diverse youth

This information will be critical in designing clinical, school, and health policy recommendations to help promote adolescent mental health and well-being today and in future catastrophic events. As one in eight adolescents live in California, if we learn to better support Californian youth, we will make a significant contribution to adolescent health nationally.