Levels of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Adolescents during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Vietnam: A Cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i1.105Keywords:
Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Adolescents, COVID-19Abstract
Stress, anxiety, and depression are critical mental health concerns that significantly impact adolescent psychological development, necessitating systematic and scientific investigation to inform effective prevention and intervention measures, particularly during social crises. This study utilized the Vietnamese version of the DASS-21 scale to assess 8,473 adolescents across six provinces in Vietnam, aiming to determine the prevalence and examine key factors influencing stress, anxiety, and depression during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate that the prevalence rates of stress, anxiety, and depression among Vietnamese adolescents during the pandemic were 65.5%, 41.5%, and 34.2%, respectively, declining to 55.4%, 25.4%, and 20.1% in the post-pandemic period. Key factors influencing adolescent emotional well-being included the quality of parent-child relationships, duration of electronic device use, and sleep quality. Positive family relationships served as protective factors against anxiety, whereas excessive technology use exacerbated negative symptoms. In the post-pandemic period, engagement in extracurricular activities and the adoption of a positive lifestyle played a more prominent role in mental well-being. This study underscores the necessity of regulating technology use and enhancing family engagement as integral components of prevention strategies and early intervention programs for adolescent mental health in the context of social crises and post-crisis adaptation.
References
1. Anjum, A., Hossain, S., Hasan, M. T., … (2022). Stress symptoms and associated factors among adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 22, 807. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04340-0 IF: 3.4 Q2 B2
2. Auerbach, R. P., Admon, R., & Pizzagalli, D. A. (2014). Adolescent depression, stress, and reward dysfunction. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 22(3), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000034 IF: 2.5 Q2 B4
3. Do, T. T., & Nguyen, M. L. (2020). The relationship between academic pressure and students' mental health. Journal of Psychology, 18(2), 23–34.
4. Gupta, S., Das, S., & Das, M. (2023). Prevalence and correlations of depression, anxiety, and stress among high school students in a block of Hooghly district, West Bengal: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1769_22 IF: 1.4 Q3 NA
5. Ha, T. T., Tran, M. Q., & Nguyen, P. H. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of high school students in Hanoi. Vietnam Journal of Psychology, 37(5), 45–56.
6. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2018). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning EMEA.
7. Henry, L. M., Steele, E. H., Watson, K. H., … (2020). Stress exposure and maternal depression as risk factors for symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 51, 572–584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00940-2 IF: 2.3 Q2 B3
8. Ho, T. T. Q., Nguyen, B. T. N., & Nguyen, N. P. H. (2023). Academic stress and depression among Vietnamese adolescents: A moderated mediation model of life satisfaction and resilience. Current Psychology, 42, 27217–27227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03661-3 IF: 2.5 Q2 B3
9. Hung, D. M., & Associates. (2022). Adolescent mental health after the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Education and Society, 31(1), 79–88.
10. Huong, T. T., & Huong, N. T. (2023). The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. vwajs-vn, 2023(1), 2-13.
11. Jones, E. A., Mitra, A., Bhattacharya, S., McCormack, S., & Chatterjee, M. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in adolescents: A cross-sectional survey study in the USA. Child Abuse & Neglect, 105, 104750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.104750
12. Köse Kabakcıoğlu, N., & Ayaz-Alkaya, S. (2024). The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on stress, anxiety, and depression in adolescents: A quasi-experimental design. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 78, 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2024.06.014
13. Le, T. M. H., & Tran, V. C. (2021). The impact of social media and academic pressure on anxiety and depression in Vietnamese high school students during the COVID-19 period. Vietnam Journal of Psychology, 39(2), 123–134.
14. Le, M. T., & Associates. (2022). Depression and anxiety among adolescents during the pandemic. Vietnam Journal of Medical Sciences, 30(2), 110–123.
15. Le, T. K., Pham, M. T., Nguyen, A. T., & Tran, V. K. (2021). Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Vietnamese adolescents during the lockdown. Early Child Development and Care, 191(14), 2256–2265. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2021.1879053
16. Liu, J. J., Bao, Y., Huang, X., Shi, J., & Lu, L. (2021). Mental health considerations for children quarantined because of COVID-19. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(5), 347–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30096-1 IF: 19.9 Q1 B1
17. Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (1995). The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behavior Research and Therapy, 33, 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-U IF: 4.2 Q1 B2
18. Muhammad Khir, S., Wan Mohd Yunus, W. M. A., Mahmud, N., … (2024). Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation in adults for stress, anxiety, and depression: A systematic review. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 17, 345–365. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S437277 IF: 2.8 Q1 B3
19. Muyiduli, X., Zhang, R., & Zhang, J. (2024). Prevalence and relevant factors of depression among adolescents in Xinjiang, China: A cross-sectional survey. Medicine, 103, e37090. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000037090 IF: 1.3 Q2 B4
20. Nguyen, Q. A., Tran, T. T. H., Pham, T. V., & Le, T. T. (2021). Psychological impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on Vietnamese adolescents. Psych neuroendocrinology, 38(6), 105127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105127 IF: 3.4 Q2 B2
21. Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
22. Prabha, V. S., Devi, G. S., Rao, V. B., & Kanakabushanam, G. V. (2017). A comparative study of anxiety and depression among adolescents from rural and urban areas. Journal of Medical and Scientific Research, 5(1), 29–32. https://doi.org/10.17727/jmsr.2017/5-6
23. Pham, H. T., Le, M. T., & Do, P. D. (2019). The relationship between academic pressure and depression in high school students. Journal of Psychological Research, 31(1), 33–46.
24. Pham, H. T., Nguyen, M. T., Ly, H. N., & Trinh, T. M. L. (2022). Post-COVID-19 mental health outcomes among Vietnamese adolescents. Journal of Affective Disorders, 297, 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.059 IF: 4.9 Q1 B2
25. Ravens-Sieberer, U., Kaman, A., Erhart, M., Devine, J., Schlack, R., & Otto, C. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents in Germany. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 60(7), 1000–1011.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2021.05.002 IF: 9.2 Q1 B1
26. Shrestha, S., Phuyal, R., & Chalise, P. (2023). Depression, Anxiety and Stress among School-going Adolescents of a Secondary School: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 61(259), 249–251. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.8067
27. Sandal, R. K., Goel, N. K., Sharma, M. K., Bakshi, R. K., Singh, N., & Kumar, D. (2017). Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among school going adolescent in Chandigarh. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 6(2), 405–410. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.219988
28. Selçuk, E. B., Demir, A. Ç., Erbay, L. G., Özcan, Ö. Ö., Gürer, H., & Dönmez, Y. E. (2021). Anxiety, depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms in adolescents during the COVID‐19 outbreak and associated factors. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 75(11). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14880
29. Smith AC, Thomas E, Snoswell CL et al. (2020) Telehealth for global emergencies: implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X20916567
30. Silva Junior, F. J. G. da, Sales, J. C. e S., Monteiro, C. F. de S., Costa, A. P. C., Campos, L. R. B., Miranda, P. I. G., … Lopes-Junior, L. C. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of young people and adults: a systematic review protocol of observational studies. BMJ Open, 10(7), e039426. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039426
31. Wang, G., Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, J., & Jiang, F. (2020). Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet, 395(10228), 945–947. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30547-X IF: 98.4 Q1 B1
32. World Health Organization. (2023). Global accelerated action for the health of adolescents (AA-HA!) Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.
33. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Adolescent health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/adolescent-health#tab=tab_1
34. Windarwati, H. D., Lestari, R., Wicaksono, S. A., Kusumawati, M. W., Ati, N. A. L., Ilmy, S. K., … Susanti, D. (2022). Relationship between stress, anxiety, and depression with suicidal ideation in adolescents. Jurnal Ners, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.20473/jn.v17i1.31216
35. Xie, X., Xue, Q., Zhou, Y., & Zhu, K. (2020). Mental health status among children in home confinement during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in Hubei Province, China. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(9), 898–900. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.1619
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License permitting all use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
