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Hintergrund: Ein kontinuierliches bundesweites Gesundheitsmonitoring ist wichtig, um das Wohlbefinden von Kindern und Jugendlichen im Blick zu behalten und Entwicklungsverläufe abzubilden. Anhand der Ergebnisse von 3 ausgewählten epidemiologischen Studien werden Entwicklungen zum kindlichen Wohlbefinden der letzten 20 Jahre vorgestellt. Methodik: Datengrundlage bilden (1.) die bevölkerungsbezogene BEfragung zum seeLischen WohLbefinden und VerhAlten (BELLA-Studie, 2003–2017, N = 1500–3000), die ein Modul der KiGGS-Studie ist, (2.) die COrona und PSYche Studie (COPSY, 2020–2022, N = 1600–1700), die auf der BELLA-Studie aufbaut, und (3.) die internationale Health-Behaviour in School-aged Children Studie (HBSC, 2002–2018, N = 4300–7300). Das Wohlbefinden wurde bei 7‑ bis 17-Jährigen mittels der Indikatoren gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität (KIDSCREEN-10), Lebenszufriedenheit (Cantril Ladder) und psychische Auffälligkeiten (Strenghts and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) und Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)) erfasst. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt zeigen Kinder und Jugendliche präpandemisch (2002–2018) eine konstant hohe gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität und eine hohe allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit, die sich mit Beginn der COVID-19-Pandemie 2020 zunächst verschlechterte. 2 Jahre später zeigen sich Verbesserungen, die jedoch noch nicht das Ausgangsniveau erreichen. Psychische Auffälligkeiten, ängstliche und depressive Symptome nahmen mit Pandemiebeginn um bis zu 12 Prozentpunkte zu und zeigen auch 2 Jahre nach Pandemiebeginn noch höhere Werte als präpandemische Studien. Diskussion: Die Epidemiologie kindlichen Wohlbefindens bietet eine notwendige Datengrundlage, um den Unterstützungsbedarf von Kindern und Jugendlichen zu erfassen und auf dieser Basis Maßnahmen der Gesundheitsförderung, Prävention und Intervention zu entwickeln.

Research on past pandemic crises and first results of the actual COVID-19 pandemic indicate that individuals have to deal with challenges and limitations in various areas of life. Measures of quarantine or isolation, with the objective of containing the COVID-19 pathogen, were associated with diverse mental health problems such as heightened contamination fears, post-traumatic stress, depression or insomnia (see Brooks et al., 2020 for an overview). However, the general non-infected population may be affected in other or similar worrying ways due to federal distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, social distancing measures and visiting bans have been discussed to have a negative impact on social well-being by enhancing feelings of loneliness and insufficient social support (Remuzzi & Remuzzi, 2020). This pertains especially to the elderly due to frequently lacking knowledge or possession of digital communication applications (Berg-Weger & Morley, 2020). Moreover, unemployment or financial loss as a result of quarantine created serious distress and lower economic well-being (Pellecchia et al., 2016), even in the aftermath of the crisis (Jeong et al., 2016). The current situation of heightened unemployment rates (Statista, 2020), and with parents often having to master the stresses and strains of child care, home schooling and home office at the same time, emphasizes the importance of paying also attention toward social and economic burden. In sum, evidence suggests that diverse domains of quality of life (QoL), such as psychological, physical, social and economic well-being, are negatively affected during a pandemic crisis. However, there are also some indications of positive effects on social well-being during an epidemic situation such as experiences of support and care from close others (Lau et al., 2005). The extent of negative and positive impact of COVID-19, particularly in the long-run, is not yet foreseeable. In line with a positive public mental health approach (Kobau et al., 2011), it is important to pay also attention to mechanisms that help understand how individuals manage to maintain their QoL or recover rapidly after experiencing a life crisis. Evidence from different critical or stressful life events suggests that coping strategies reflecting active and focused efforts towards problem solution (problem-focused) are associated with better well-being and positive affect whereas escape-avoidance coping (emotion-focused) shows the opposite pattern of relationship (Jopp & Schmidt, 2010; Knoll et al., 2005). Actual research from Italy also found a positive association between active problem-oriented coping and lower perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and socio-economic outcomes (Cerami et al., 2020). Previous investigations on the efficacy of coping strategies, however, also point toward the need to consider characteristics of the given context (Folkman & Moskovitz, 2004). Considering the specific circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has to be taken into account that certain problem-oriented coping strategies efforts cannot be applied due to lack of control. National restrictions and public distancing measures, for example, have to be accepted and individuals have to cope with the respective consequences. Accordingly, other coping strategies such as acceptance or positive reappraisal (meaning-focused) as well as seeking instrumental or emotional support (support-oriented) could become even more important and adaptive in terms of QoL, as indicated by other situations where there is lack of control, such as in case of coping with incurable disease (Hagan, et al., 2017; Nipp et al., 2016). In sum, the predominant focus of previous studies was directed at infected individuals or those suspected to infection undergoing quarantine as well as on the negative psychological consequences. Hence, the present study follows a broader research perspective and aims to (1) investigate COVID-19-related positive and negative impacts on the QoL of the general population in different domains (physical, psychological, social and economic), (2) identify QoL high-risk groups in need of public health attention as well as (3) compare different coping strategies and identify those most beneficial for maintaining or even enhancing QoL levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Einleitung: Die Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) ist eine der am häufigsten diagnostizierten psychischen Störungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Im Zeitverlauf wurden steigende administrative Prävalenzzahlen für ADHS-Diagnosen aus Abrechnungsdaten [zum vollständigen Text gelangen Sie über die oben angegebene URL]

Mental health problems in children and adolescents are associated with individual and family-related constraints as well as social costs. 20.0% of children and adolescents showed mental health problems at the KiGGS baseline study (2003-2006). This study investigates the current prevalence for KiGGS Wave 2 (2014-2017) as well as time trends in comparison with the KiGGS baseline study. Mental health problems were assessed for 3- to 17-year-old children and adolescents by using the parent-based version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). For KiGGS Wave 2, the prevalence of mental health problems was 16.9%. A decreasing trend is pronounced particularly among boys between 9 and 17 years of age. Mental health problems are displayed more frequently by girls and boys from families with a low socioeconomic status compared to their peers from families with a medium or high socioeconomic status. These findings are discussed in the light of various measures and actions in health promotion and health care.