Mental health in Peruvian adolescents during and after the COVID-19 lockdown: A comparative analysis of depression, anxiety and stress
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18211389Keywords:
adolescents, anxiety, COVID-19, depression, stressAbstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported an increase in mental health disorders among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to social isolation, economic uncertainty, and educational disruptions. In Peru, prolonged confinement severely impacted the emotional well-being of this population. In this context, the present study aimed to compare levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in Peruvian adolescents during and after confinement. A descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and comparative design was used. The DASS-21 scale was administered to two groups: 951 adolescents during the pandemic (13–18 years old; 61.2% female) and 381 post-confinement (13–18 years old; 54.1% male). The results showed a significant reduction in severe and extremely severe levels of depression (from 41.5% to 19.7%), anxiety (from 49.8% to 30.7%), and stress (from 19.1% to 5.8%), with an increase in the normal categories. The Mann-Whitney U test confirmed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) between periods. In conclusion, although adolescents' mental health improved after the lockdown, relevant emotional manifestations persisted, highlighting the need to strengthen psychological support programs in educational settings.
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