Research Article

Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Volume: 16 Number: 6 November 30, 2022
TR EN

Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate behavioral, emotional problems and fatigue in adolescents after COVID-19 infection. Also, we examined relationships between baseline inflammation levels, fatigue, and the current behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents.

Material and Methods: A total of 110 adolescents (56 boys, 50.9%, mean age 14.72 years) and their parents were included in the study. Psychiatric assessments of the adolescents were performed 7.31±2.35 months after discharge from hospital. Behavioral and emotional problems was assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 6-18 parent-rated questionnaire.

Results: We collected baseline inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The proportions of adolescents that were in the clinical range in at least one behavioral and emotional domain were as follows: 44.5% in the entire sample, 35.7% in boys, and 53.7% in girls. Thought problems were the most common problems in the entire sample (25.5%). The rates of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were 33.6% and 16.4%, respectively. Somatic and attention symptoms were more frequent in females than in males. Inflammatory marker levels did not correlate with behavioral and emotional scores. Fatigue symptoms were determined in 36.4% of all adolescents. We found that somatic and attention problems are more common in fatigued adolescents.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that screening for behavioral, emotional problems, and fatigue in adolescents with COVID-19 infection is necessary. Future studies with a follow-up design are needed to determine whether a relationship exists between behavioral, emotional problems and baseline inflammation levels after COVID-19 infection.

Keywords

Thanks

We are extremely grateful to all adolescents and their families for taking part. We would like to thank the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit of Ankara City Hospital and all healthcare professionals who treated the children with great devotion during the pandemic.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

November 30, 2022

Submission Date

October 18, 2021

Acceptance Date

January 4, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 16 Number: 6

APA
Akçay, E., Çöp, E., Şenses Dinç, G., Göker, Z., Özkaya Parlakay, A., Mutlu, M., Demirel, B. D., & Kırmızı, B. (2022). Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi, 16(6), 487-494. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1010956
AMA
1.Akçay E, Çöp E, Şenses Dinç G, et al. Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study. Turkish J Pediatr Dis. 2022;16(6):487-494. doi:10.12956/tchd.1010956
Chicago
Akçay, Elif, Esra Çöp, Gülser Şenses Dinç, et al. 2022. “Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi 16 (6): 487-94. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1010956.
EndNote
Akçay E, Çöp E, Şenses Dinç G, Göker Z, Özkaya Parlakay A, Mutlu M, Demirel BD, Kırmızı B (November 1, 2022) Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi 16 6 487–494.
IEEE
[1]E. Akçay et al., “Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study”, Turkish J Pediatr Dis, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 487–494, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.12956/tchd.1010956.
ISNAD
Akçay, Elif - Çöp, Esra - Şenses Dinç, Gülser - Göker, Zeynep - Özkaya Parlakay, Aslınur - Mutlu, Müge - Demirel, Betül Damla - Kırmızı, Begüm. “Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi 16/6 (November 1, 2022): 487-494. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1010956.
JAMA
1.Akçay E, Çöp E, Şenses Dinç G, Göker Z, Özkaya Parlakay A, Mutlu M, Demirel BD, Kırmızı B. Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study. Turkish J Pediatr Dis. 2022;16:487–494.
MLA
Akçay, Elif, et al. “Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 6, Nov. 2022, pp. 487-94, doi:10.12956/tchd.1010956.
Vancouver
1.Elif Akçay, Esra Çöp, Gülser Şenses Dinç, Zeynep Göker, Aslınur Özkaya Parlakay, Müge Mutlu, Betül Damla Demirel, Begüm Kırmızı. Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study. Turkish J Pediatr Dis. 2022 Nov. 1;16(6):487-94. doi:10.12956/tchd.1010956


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