Effects of Risk and Protective Factors on Youth Well-being Trajectories During COVID-19

Glorianna Sin (2023-24)

Abstract

Subjective well-being impacts individuals across the lifespan and is associated with physical health, longevity, and fewer psychosocial issues (Park 2004; Diener, 2012). However, well-being has been on a continuous decline in the last decade, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when youth collectively experienced a global crisis (UNICEF Canada, 2022). Despite rapid changes incurred by the pandemic, a subpopulation of youth flourished, demonstrating enhanced well-being, but little is known about factors that influence well-being over time (Cost et al., 2022). This study is a secondary data analysis utilizing youth participant data from the All Our Families (AOF) longitudinal cohort (McDonald et al., 2013). Using latent class growth analyses (LCGA), this study examines youth well-being trajectories from three timepoints during COVID-19 and explores the effects of different risk and protective factors on trajectory growth. Four trajectories were identified: “Decreasing Well-being” (9.6%), “High Stable Well-being” (71.7%), “Low Stable Well-being” (5.5%), and “Increasing Well-being” (13.2%). Among the “Decreasing Well-being” group, risk factors such as child depression and cyberbullying significantly influenced the rate of decrease in youth well-being. Among youth in the “Increasing Well-being” group, optimism and social connections were associated with slower increases in well-being, while resiliency at the start of COVID was associated with more rapid increase for this group. The findings show that youth uniquely responded to adversity posed by the pandemic. Focus on resiliency, optimism, social connections, child depression, and cyberbullying intervention will be important for pandemic-recovery efforts and promoting well-being in the future.