Post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional Tunisian study

Abstract

Objectives: Evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on Tunisian adolescents enrolled in secondary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify associated factors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytic study on a sample of Tunisian adolescents. Participants were randomly selected from two schools in the region of Hamma (southern of Tunisia). This survey took place during the period extending from 5 March to 26 May 2021. Students were asked to complete a pre-established information sheet which contains questions about socio-demographic features, medical history, knowledge about the pandemic of COVID-19, and personal or family history of being infected with this virus. The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) was used to screen for PTSD among students. Results: The sample was composed of 326 students (92 boys and 234 girls; mean age 16.65 years). The prevalence of PTSD was 37.4% according to the CPSS. Adolescents had more PTSD symptoms when they lived in a conflictual family atmosphere (AOR = 3.1 [1.4–6.9]). Moreover, adolescents who were infected by the virus, or whose relatives were contaminated or dead because of the COVID-19 infection, were more likely to develop PTSD symptoms. We stated that students who estimated that their knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic were insufficient had a significant higher risk for PTSD (AOR = 2.5 [1.4–4.6]). Conclusion: Students seemed to have high frequency of PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The identification of risk and protective factors are interesting to guide screening and prevention actions. Key points: • Adolescents were vulnerable to psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic, they were more exposed to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. • A total of 37.4% was the prevalence of PTSD among Tunisian adolescents. Sufficient information about the pandemic was protective. Conflictual family atmosphere constitutes a risk factor. • Family and social efforts should be directed toward supporting teenagers to cope with the pandemics’ mental health burden.