Agorastos, Agorastos, Thompson, Trevor and Solmi, Marco , (2025) Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 104, [112741]. (doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.112741).
Abstract
Few multinational studies have assessed risk factors and coping strategies associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health over time. The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT) is the largest transcontinental, multi-wave, cross-sectional survey collecting multi-nation data on well-being and psychopathology during the pandemic. We analyzed country-specific, general-population-based, representative COH-FIT data of 6,067 children aged 6–13 years from 12 countries across repeated cross-sectional waves over a period of >2 years (Apr/2020–May/2022), addressing through current and retrospective assessment pre- to intra-pandemic changes in well-being (WHO-5) and general psychopathology scores (Pc) (0-100) in relation to COVID-related deaths, stringency index, eight a priori risk factors, and 16 coping strategies in different responders at each wave. From pre- to intra-pandemic, WHO-5 scores decreased (−4.59, 95%CI=−6.18 to −2.99, p<.001), while PC-scores increased (+6.68, 95%CI=4.48–8.88, p<.001) significantly, following distinct time patterns but both returning to near pre-pandemic levels. Changes in both scores varied by country. WHO-5 scores correlated strongly with PC and subdomain scores. Both score changes were significantly but minimally associated to COVID-19 deaths/stringency index. The proportion of children screening positive for depression increased from 3.9% to 8.3% (χ²=145.70, p<.001) and for major depression from 0.6% to 2.2% (χ²=68.64, p<.001) intrapandemic. WHO-5 and PC-score changes were significantly associated with female gender, school closure, and pre-existing physical and mental conditions, with cumulative effects. The five most frequently endorsed coping strategies were family contact (85.2%), friends (67.3%), outdoor play (54.0%), pet interaction (51.5%), and internet use (50.9%). Identified risk groups and coping strategies can inform targeted interventions and global public health policy.
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