The Global Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Mental Health

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected youth mental health, intensifying stress and anxiety due to school closures and social isolation. Existing studies focus on country-specific impacts without fully exploring the interplay between the pandemic, educational disruptions, and economic factors on a global scale. This research addresses this by investigating (1) the worldwide effects of school closures on youth mental health during the pandemic, and (2) the role of household income and national economic status in these impacts. Methods: Data from the Gallup World Poll and the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker will be gathered to investigate the combined impacts of the pandemic and school closures on youth mental health worldwide. By integrating this data into the analysis, this research investigates the correlation between government policies, socio-economic status, and mental health in over 100,000 youths aged 15-24 across 165 countries. The analysis uses Linear Mixed Models to account for variations by country, region, and time. Expected Outcomes: I expect to find significant correlations between school closures and declines in youth mental health especially in low-income countries. The main goal is to offer a global perspective on vulnerable groups and inform policymaking for better youth mental health resilience. Conclusion: This study aims to enhance our knowledge of COVID-19's multifaceted impact on global youth mental health. It will contribute to the body of literature on youth well-being, especially in crisis situations. The findings are expected to inform future policies and strategies for mitigating mental health disparities and fostering resilience among youths, promoting the well-being of future generations.