Distance learning .. psychological stress and negative effects on adolescent personality development

“The days have grown long while I am alone”, with this sentence, Aya Raji (14), a student, described her experience of distance education, which left her in a state of anxiety and of inability to sleep after she became away from her friends, according to what was quoted by the New York newspaper. Times “.

The social isolation imposed by the emerging corona virus pandemic has affected the mental health of many American college students, as teens rely on their friendships to maintain self-esteem and control anxiety and depression.

A recent study of 3,300 high school students showed that about a third of them reported feeling miserable or depressed in recent months, and more than a quarter said they did not feel connected to teachers and colleagues with this reality. , although it might seem odd to a generation used to communicate with your friends through social networking sites.

In turn, the group warned parents and teachers not to pay attention to teens with extreme aggressive behavior, severe weight loss or heavy drinking, as well as drastic changes in mood.

“The development of independence and personality is destroyed when children stay at home with their parents,” said Dr. Brunner, spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The US newspaper said the percentage of mental health-related children’s emergency room visits increased dramatically during the outbreak, highlighting concerns about the psychological effects that confinement and social distancing had on young people, according to a news report. Analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last week, researchers at the University of Amsterdam and Emma Children’s Hospital published a study on adolescent mental health in the Netherlands, which found that young people had reported a marked increase in intense anxiety and sleep problems during the country lockdown.

The Dutch study added that children were more likely to report mental health problems, especially if a parent lost their job or knew someone infected with the coronavirus.