Interactive effects of prenatal adversity and COVID-19 hardship on youth psychological distress: a longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in severe loss of life and increased anxiety as well as fear worldwide. This study explored whether pre-pandemic exposure to varying levels of perinatal maternal adversity coupled with pandemic-related experiences are related to youth distress levels.

Methods

Data from 119 youth (aged 9-17) and their mothers were analyzed to assess the interactive effects of perinatal maternal adversity and pandemic-related objective hardship on youth psychological distress.

Results

Youth-reported hardship models consistently explained more variance in their psychological distress. Youth-reported hardship, specifically daily life changes, predicted psychological distress, including PTSD symptoms and peritraumatic experiences during the pande

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12310598 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature