Joint developmental trajectories of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among Chinese children during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: In early 2020, Chinese children started to demonstrate severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) caused by lockdown and self-isolation (measures taken at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic).

Objectives: Concerning the significant impact of the pandemic on children's physical and mental development, the study aimed to explore children's depression and PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protective effects of family resilience on the trajectories.

Methods: 883 children participated and completed three waves of online follow-up questionnaires. The latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) analysis was used to explore the trajectories of children's depression and PTSS based on the individual approach.

Results: Two types of depression trajectories were identified and defined as the resilient group (83.01 %) and the recovery group (16.99 %); Two types of PTSS trajectories were identified and defined as the resilient group (71.12 %) and the recovery group (28.88 %); Two types of the joint trajectories of depression and PTSS were identified and defined as the resilient group (83.47 %) and the chronic group (16.53 %). The results indicated that maintaining a positive outlook (a dimension of family resilience) was the potential predictor of PTSS trajectories.

Conclusion: The trajectories of depression and PTSS among Chinese children during the COVID-19 pandemic were heterogeneous, and there were similar evolving subtypes. Family resilience could be a critical protective factor for children and families.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; Depression; Family resilience; PTSS.