Brain scans have revealed the substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teenagers’ mental health. At a time when mental health among teenagers was already declining, the pandemic may have exacerbated the situation. It is stated in a report set to be presented by the Society for Neuroscience that the adolescent brain is still developing and exhibits vulnerability to both external and internal factors. The pandemic introduced new stressors for young adults that were not present before.
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When scanning adolescent brains after the pandemic, scientists found structural changes usually “associated with chronic stress.” This area of research also found evidence of “abnormal and premature” thinning of the brain’s cortical surface, concluding that it suggests high levels of chronic stress and trauma. Furthermore, it was more prominent among female adolescents than males.
The second part of the research focused on adolescents’ brain circuits before the pandemic started. Using data from the existing Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, brain scans found that teenagers with weaker brain circuits may have been more vulnerable to the negative effects of the pandemic and its stressors. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms an increase in mental health issues among adolescents.
Shutdown of schools during the pandemic increased stress on family units, leading to elevated mental health issues, particularly among specific groups including LGBTQ+ teens, females, and those from minority racial and ethnic groups.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
