Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: Nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study

Agorastos, Agorastos;Thompson, Trevor;Solmi, Marco;Cortese, Samuele;U Correll, Christoph;et.al.
(2026) European Neuropsychopharmacology — Vol. 104, p. 112741 (2026)

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Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children - Nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study.pdf
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Authors
  • Agorastos, Agorastos
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  • Thompson, Trevororcid-logo
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  • Solmi, Marco
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  • Cortese, Samuele
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  • de Timary, PhilippeUCLouvain
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  • U Correll, Christoph
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  • et. al.
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Abstract
Few multinational studies have assessed risk factors and coping strategies associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health over time. The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT) is the largest transcontinental, multi-wave, cross-sectional survey collecting multi-nation data on well-being and psychopathology during the pandemic. We analyzed country-specific, general-population-based, representative COH-FIT data of 6067 children aged 6-13 years from 12 countries across repeated cross-sectional waves over a period of >2 years (Apr/2020-May/2022), addressing through current and retrospective assessment pre- to intra-pandemic changes in well-being (WHO-5) and general psychopathology scores (Pc) (0-100) in relation to COVID-related deaths, stringency index, eight a priori risk factors, and 16 coping strategies in different responders at each wave. From pre- to intra-pandemic, WHO-5 scores decreased (-4.59, 95 %CI=-6.18 to -2.99, p < 0.001), while PC-scores increased (+6.68, 95 %CI=4.48-8.88, p < 0.001) significantly, following distinct time patterns but both returning to near pre-pandemic levels. Changes in both scores varied by country. WHO-5 scores correlated strongly with PC and subdomain scores. Both score changes were significantly but minimally associated to COVID-19 deaths/stringency index. The proportion of children screening positive for depression increased from 3.9 % to 8.3 % (χ²=145.70, p < 0.001) and for major depression from 0.6 % to 2.2 % (χ²=68.64, p < 0.001) intrapandemic. WHO-5 and PC-score changes were significantly associated with female gender, school closure, and pre-existing physical and mental conditions, with cumulative effects. The five most frequently endorsed coping strategies were family contact (85.2 %), friends (67.3 %), outdoor play (54.0 %), pet interaction (51.5 %), and internet use (50.9 %). Identified risk groups and coping strategies can inform targeted interventions and global public health policy.
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Agorastos, A., Thompson, T., Solmi, M., Cortese, S., Estradé, A., Radua, J., Dragioti, E., Vancampfort, D., Thygesen, L., Aschauer, H., Schlögelhofer, M., Aschauer, E., Schneeberger, A., Huber, C., Hasler, G., Conus, P., Do Cuénod, K., Von Känel, R., Arrondo, G., et al. (2026). Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: Nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 104, 112741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.112741 (Original work published 2026)