Caregiver Perceived Stress as a Link Between Family COVID-19 Experiences and Early Adolescent Mental Health Symptomology

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with family adjustment, heightened adolescent mental health symptomology, and increased caregiver stress. The current study used a diverse sample of caregivers and early adolescents to examine the association between pandemic-related experiences, caregiver perceived stress, and adolescent mental health. Two hundred and 34 caregivers and their adolescents (10–14 years old) from the Southeastern United States completed surveys during the early stages of the pandemic. Structural equation modeling analyses tested the relationship between COVID-19 experiences, caregiver perceived stress, and adolescent mental health, and whether perceived stress could explain the relationship between COVID-19 experiences and adolescent mental health symptomology. Findings reveal that perceived stress was a significant indirect effect in the relationship between COVID-19 experience and adolescent mental health symptomology.