The COVID-19 pandemic has played a significant role in adolescent mental health, especially among girls who have reportedly become emotionally mature much faster than usual.
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At least that’s what a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She analyzed the brains of several adolescents during the pandemic.
Lockdown measures have caused brain maturation to be faster in young people, especially girls, researchers say. The average acceleration is 4.2 years for girls, compared to 1.4 years for boys.
Distance learning and the obligation to isolate at home are two factors that have been shown to cause drastic changes to the structure of the brain and its neurophysiological mechanisms.
For example, these factors have led to increased anxiety and depression among young people, according to the report released Monday.
Girls would suffer more from chronic stress, internalizing symptoms and malaise.
Boys, on the other hand, were more likely to have attention deficit disorders and addiction problems such as online gaming. During the pandemic, they were more likely to have a more negative outlook on life in general.
This research is the first to distinguish between girls and boys in terms of the effects of COVID-19 on the brain and its mental health risks. Two other studies had raised the issue without separating the sexes.
Taking care of your young
Let us remember that adolescence is a crucial period for socio-emotional development, where drastic changes to the structure of the brain occur on a daily basis.
Researchers say adolescents should be supported during this time.
They recommend spending quality time with your children, limiting access to social media and being attentive to variations in their behavior.
For those suffering from a mental health disorder, experts recommend seeking help by contacting a psychologist or other mental health professional.
In total, 130 people participated in the project based in Washington state, United States. They were between the ages of 9 and 17 in 2018, before the pandemic, when the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to analyze the brain was performed. They underwent a second MRI in 2020 to observe its effects.
The study found accelerated thinning of the cortex in adolescent brains after the pandemic, in 30 brain regions across both hemispheres and all lobes in girls, and in just two regions in boys.
Participants did not provide details on their financial and family situations or lifestyle habits. They did not specify whether they had ever had COVID-19.
Individuals who had a developmental disorder, a psychiatric disorder or who were taking psychotropic medications were not selected by the experts.
