biostudies-literatureLewis JNIMH NIH HHSVirginia TechUS Department of EducationNIGMS NIH HHSCincinnati Children’s Research Foundation404-414https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12376415biostudies-literatureUnknown15(3)<h4>Objective</h4>This longitudinal study investigated the predictors of and changes in psychological trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Method</h4>Participants included 236 adolescents (130 males; <i>M</i>_age = 16.74 years in spring 2020; 49.6% diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; 16.1% diagnosed with an anxiety or depressive disorder) in the United States who completed online questionnaires at four timepoints (spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021).<h4>Results</h4>Repeated measures ANOVA showed that psychological trauma was highest during stay-at-home orders in spring 2020, and decreased for a majority of adolescents by the summer of 2020. However, ~20% of adolescents exhibited moderate-to-clinical levels of psychological trauma at each timepoint. Four groups were identified based on the presence of psychological trauma symptoms: (a) <i>resilient group</i> (normal range across all timepoints; 60.6%); (b) <i>moderate fluctuating group</i> (moderate range at 1 or more timepoints; 18.2%); (c) <i>severe fluctuating group</i> (clinical range at 1 or more timepoints; 14.0%); and (d) <i>chronic psychological trauma group</i> (moderate or clinical range across all timepoints; 7.2%). Females, adolescents with preexisting internalizing disorders, and participants whose families were most impacted by the pandemic were more susceptible to experiencing psychological trauma symptoms.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Findings highlight at-risk populations and suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in psychological trauma symptoms for approximately 20% of adolescents at some point during the first year of the pandemic. There is critical need to provide mental health services to adolescents, such as through school-based services, to reduce the negative long-term psychological impact of the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policyProspective examination of psychological trauma among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.PMC12376415R25 GM072767R305A160126K23 MH108603Jayakumar SLewis JLangberg JMDvorsky MRBreaux RBecker SPfalseProspective examination of psychological trauma among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Objective</h4>This longitudinal study investigated the predictors of and changes in psychological trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Method</h4>Participants included 236 adolescents (130 males; <i>M</i>_age = 16.74 years in spring 2020; 49.6% diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; 16.1% diagnosed with an anxiety or depressive disorder) in the United States who completed online questionnaires at four timepoints (spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021).<h4>Results</h4>Repeated measures ANOVA showed that psychological trauma was highest during stay-at-home orders in spring 2020, and decreased for a majority of adolescents by the summer of 2020. However, ~20% of adolescents exhibited moderate-to-clinical levels of psychological trauma at each timepoint. Four groups were identified based on the presence of psychological trauma symptoms: (a) <i>resilient group</i> (normal range across all timepoints; 60.6%); (b) <i>moderate fluctuating group</i> (moderate range at 1 or more timepoints; 18.2%); (c) <i>severe fluctuating group</i> (clinical range at 1 or more timepoints; 14.0%); and (d) <i>chronic psychological trauma group</i> (moderate or clinical range across all timepoints; 7.2%). Females, adolescents with preexisting internalizing disorders, and participants whose families were most impacted by the pandemic were more susceptible to experiencing psychological trauma symptoms.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Findings highlight at-risk populations and suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in psychological trauma symptoms for approximately 20% of adolescents at some point during the first year of the pandemic. There is critical need to provide mental health services to adolescents, such as through school-based services, to reduce the negative long-term psychological impact of the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Mar2026-05-09T19:10:51.394Z2026-04-08T01:11:02.025ZS-EPMC123764153586208710.1037/tra0001311