@article{OkanBollwegBerensetal., author = {Okan, Orkan and Bollweg, Torsten Michael and Berens, Eva-Maria and Hurrelmann, Klaus and Bauer, Ullrich and Schaeffer, Doris}, title = {Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Germany}, series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {17}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, number = {15}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph17155503}, abstract = {There is an "infodemic" associated with the COVID-19 pandemic—an overabundance of valid and invalid information. Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information, making it crucial for navigating coronavirus and COVID-19 information environments. A cross-sectional representative study of participants ≥ 16 years in Germany was conducted using an online survey. A coronavirus-related health literacy measure was developed (HLS-COVID-Q22). Internal consistency was very high (α = 0.940; ρ = 0.891) and construct validity suggests a sufficient model fit, making HLS-COVID-Q22 a feasible tool for assessing coronavirus-related health literacy in population surveys. While 49.9\% of our sample had sufficient levels of coronavirus-related health literacy, 50.1\% had "problematic" (15.2\%) or "inadequate" (34.9\%) levels. Although the overall level of health literacy is high, a vast number of participants report difficulties dealing with coronavirus and COVID-19 information. The participants felt well informed about coronavirus, but 47.8\% reported having difficulties judging whether they could trust media information on COVID-19. Confusion about coronavirus information was significantly higher among those who had lower health literacy. This calls for targeted public information campaigns and promotion of population-based health literacy for better navigation of information environments during the infodemic, identification of disinformation, and decision-making based on reliable and trustworthy information.}, language = {en} } @article{RavensSiebererErhartDevineetal., author = {Ravens-Sieberer, Ulrike and Erhart, Michael and Devine, Janine and Gilbert, Martha and Reiss, Franziska and Barkmann, Claus and Siegel, Nico A. and Simon, Anja M. and Hurrelmann, Klaus and Schlack, Robert and H{\"o}lling, Heike and Wieler, Lothar H. and Kaman, Anne}, title = {Child and Adolescent Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the Three-Wave Longitudinal COPSY Study}, series = {Journal of Adolescent Health}, volume = {71}, journal = {Journal of Adolescent Health}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.06.022}, pages = {570 -- 578}, abstract = {Purpose The German population-based longitudinal COVID-19 and Psychological Health study monitors changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies vulnerable groups. Methods A nationwide, population-based survey was conducted in May 2020 to June 2020 (Wave 1), December 2020 to January 2021 (Wave 2), and September 2021 to October 2021 (Wave 3). In total, n = 2,097 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years were investigated using measures to assess HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-10), mental health problems (SDQ), anxiety (SCARED), depressive symptoms(PHQ-2), and psychosomatic complaints(HBSC-SCL). Results The prevalence of low HRQoL increased from 15\% prepandemic to 40\% and 48\% in Waves 1 and 2 and improved slightly to 35\% in Wave 3 (all differences significant). Similarly, overall mental health problems increased from 18\% prepandemic to 29\% in Wave 1 and 31\% in Wave 2 to 28\% in Wave 3 (all differences significant, except Wave 3 vs. 2), anxiety increased from 15\% prepandemic to 24\% and 30\% in Waves 1 and 2 and was still 27\% in Wave 3. Depressive symptoms increased from 10\% prepandemic to 11\% and 15\% in Waves 1 and 2 and were 11\% in Wave 3. A group with low parental education, restricted living conditions, migration background, and parental mental health problems was at significantly increased risk of HRQoL and mental health impairments. Discussion The prevalence of low HRQoL, mental health problems, and anxiety has been elevated throughout the pandemic. Thus, mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention strategies need to be implemented to support adolescents-particularly those at risk.}, language = {en} } @article{RavensSiebererDevineNappetal., author = {Ravens-Sieberer, Ulrike and Devine, Janine and Napp, Ann-Kathrin and Kaman, Anne and Saftig, Lynn and Gilbert, Martha and Reiß, Franziska and L{\"o}ffler, Constanze and Simon, Anja Miriam and Hurrelmann, Klaus and Walper, Sabine and Schlack, Robert and H{\"o}lling, Heike and Wieler, Lothar Heinz and Erhart, Michael}, title = {Three years into the pandemic: results of the longitudinal German COPSY study on youth mental health and health-related quality of life}, series = {Frontiers in Public Health}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Public Health}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2023.1129073}, abstract = {Purpose For the past three years, the German longitudinal COPSY (COVID-19 and PSYchological Health) study has monitored changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the mental health of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A nationwide, population-based survey was conducted in May-June 2020 (W1), December 2020-January 2021 (W2), September-October 2021 (W3), February 2022 (W4), and September-October 2022 (W5). In total, n = 2,471 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years (n = 1,673 aged 11-17 years with self-reports) were assessed using internationally established and validated measures of HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-10), mental health problems (SDQ), anxiety (SCARED), depressive symptoms (CES-DC, PHQ-2), psychosomatic complaints (HBSC-SCL), and fear about the future (DFS-K). Findings were compared to prepandemic population-based data. Results While the prevalence of low HRQoL increased from 15\% prepandemic to 48\% at W2, it improved to 27\% at W5. Similarly, overall mental health problems rose from 18\% prepandemic to W1 through W2 (30-31\%), and since then slowly declined (W3: 27\%, W4: 29\%, W5: 23\%). Anxiety doubled from 15\% prepandemic to 30\% in W2 and declined to 25\% (W5) since then. Depressive symptoms increased from 15\%/10\% (CES-DC/PHQ-2) prepandemic to 24\%/15\% in W2, and slowly decreased to 14\%/9\% in W5. Psychosomatic complaints are across all waves still on the rise. 32-44\% of the youth expressed fears related to other current crises. Conclusion Mental health of the youth improved in year 3 of the pandemic, but is still lower than before the pandemic.}, language = {en} }