Primary Submission Category: Mental health/function
Pandemic-Related Social Determinants of Health Profiles and Their Association with Children’s Mental Health Outcomes: An ABCD Longitudinal Study
Authors: Yunyu Xiao, Michael Liu, Timothy Brown, Katherine Keyes, J. John Mann,
Presenting Author: Yunyu Xiao*
Objectives: Identify distinct social determinants of health (SDOH) risk profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate their associations with children’s mental health outcomes.
Methods: ABCD Study version 5.1 data (2020–2022) from 5,337 children impacted by pandemic-related disruptions in schooling, healthcare, economic stability, and food/housing security were analyzed. Latent class analysis identified risk profiles, and logistic regression examined their associations with mental health outcomes, adjusting for age, race, and sex.
Results: Four distinct classes emerged: Class 1, Severe Deprivation (n=478; 7.4%), had the highest wage loss, healthcare disruptions, lowest telehealth utilization, and highest food insecurity. Class 2, Low Impact (n=2743; 51.4%), had minimal wage loss, food insecurity, and healthcare disruptions. Class 3, High Delay (n=1122; 21.0%), experienced substantial healthcare delays and school closures. Class 4, Mild Deprivation (n=994; 18.6%), had notable wage loss and food insecurity but received stimulus support. Class 1 primarily included low-income, racially minoritized children, while Class 4 consisted largely of middle-class families from suburban and rural areas. Class 1 had the highest immediate suicide attempt risk at pandemic onset (OR=3.30, 95% CI: 1.96–5.47), whereas Class 4 exhibited the highest suicide risk post-onset (OR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.15–2.27), compared to Class 2.
Conclusions: Severe deprivation at COVID-19 onset correlated with immediate suicide risk, while mild deprivation predicted higher post-pandemic risk. Expanding telehealth and equitable care access in suburban/rural regions are critical for pediatric suicide prevention post-pandemic.