Mark Bosmans
Publicatie
Datum
30-12-2025
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term trends in youth depression and anxiety.
Bosmans, M.W.G., Vetten-Mc Mahon, M. de, Penders, J.A.C., Rahmon, I.J., Marra, E., Inja, B., Marel, T van der, Dückers, M.L.A. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term trends in youth depression and anxiety. Discover Mental Health: 2025. 5(1), art. nr. 210.
Lees online
Objective
Adolescent depression and anxiety have been rising in recent decades. Although reviews point at deterioration of youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, how this relates to pre-pandemic trends is unclear. This narrative review examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the long-term development of depression and anxiety among adolescents.
Method
A systematic search in PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase identified longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional studies using random sampling among youth (11–25 years).
Results
Out of 4,761 articles, nine met inclusion criteria. Most studies (7 out of 9) reported rising anxiety and/or depression rates pre-pandemic. During the pandemic, two trends emerged: five studies observed an amplification of pre-existing increases, while four reported a continuation of prior trends, none pointing at improvement.
Conclusion
The majority of studies support the hypothesis that COVID-19 exacerbated existing increases in anxiety and depression among adolescents and young adults. Additional longitudinal studies with randomized, general population samples are needed to determine post-pandemic developments.
Adolescent depression and anxiety have been rising in recent decades. Although reviews point at deterioration of youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, how this relates to pre-pandemic trends is unclear. This narrative review examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the long-term development of depression and anxiety among adolescents.
Method
A systematic search in PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase identified longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional studies using random sampling among youth (11–25 years).
Results
Out of 4,761 articles, nine met inclusion criteria. Most studies (7 out of 9) reported rising anxiety and/or depression rates pre-pandemic. During the pandemic, two trends emerged: five studies observed an amplification of pre-existing increases, while four reported a continuation of prior trends, none pointing at improvement.
Conclusion
The majority of studies support the hypothesis that COVID-19 exacerbated existing increases in anxiety and depression among adolescents and young adults. Additional longitudinal studies with randomized, general population samples are needed to determine post-pandemic developments.
Objective
Adolescent depression and anxiety have been rising in recent decades. Although reviews point at deterioration of youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, how this relates to pre-pandemic trends is unclear. This narrative review examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the long-term development of depression and anxiety among adolescents.
Method
A systematic search in PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase identified longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional studies using random sampling among youth (11–25 years).
Results
Out of 4,761 articles, nine met inclusion criteria. Most studies (7 out of 9) reported rising anxiety and/or depression rates pre-pandemic. During the pandemic, two trends emerged: five studies observed an amplification of pre-existing increases, while four reported a continuation of prior trends, none pointing at improvement.
Conclusion
The majority of studies support the hypothesis that COVID-19 exacerbated existing increases in anxiety and depression among adolescents and young adults. Additional longitudinal studies with randomized, general population samples are needed to determine post-pandemic developments.
Adolescent depression and anxiety have been rising in recent decades. Although reviews point at deterioration of youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, how this relates to pre-pandemic trends is unclear. This narrative review examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the long-term development of depression and anxiety among adolescents.
Method
A systematic search in PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase identified longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional studies using random sampling among youth (11–25 years).
Results
Out of 4,761 articles, nine met inclusion criteria. Most studies (7 out of 9) reported rising anxiety and/or depression rates pre-pandemic. During the pandemic, two trends emerged: five studies observed an amplification of pre-existing increases, while four reported a continuation of prior trends, none pointing at improvement.
Conclusion
The majority of studies support the hypothesis that COVID-19 exacerbated existing increases in anxiety and depression among adolescents and young adults. Additional longitudinal studies with randomized, general population samples are needed to determine post-pandemic developments.
