Mental health, suicide risk and the important role of self-esteem in adolescents before and during coexistence with COVID-19 in Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction/Objectives: COVID-19 has had a significant emotional impact on people’s lives, especially adolescents. Therefore, the aim was to assess the predictors of suicide risk during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents in Ecuador by means of a longitudinal study. Method: The application of a longitudinal design with two measures: before the start of the pandemic and one year afterwards. The sample consisted of 137 adolescents between 12-18 years of age. The variables analysed were mental health, the risk of suicide and self-esteem. Statistical analyses were performed using mean comparison, correlations, QCA models and mediation models. Results: The results indicated higher levels of anxiety and stress after one year of the pandemic. In addition, a higher risk of suicide following the pandemic was observed in those adolescents with higher scores in emotional symptomatology and lowself-esteem. QCA models and mediation models highlighted the importance of self-esteem as a protective variable between pre-COVID-19 suicide risk and emotional symptomatology and post-COVID-19 suicide risk. Conclusions: This study highlights adolescents’ level of vulnerability to the pandemic and its significant psychological impact. It is important to detect which factors function as risks and which as protection against COVID-19 in order to implement intervention programmes that target these aspects and ensure better adolescent well-being.