Results
Of HABIT enrolled trial dyads, 36 (72%) youth and 38 (76%) caregivers completed the survey. No significant demographic differences were found compared to non-participating dyads. Demographic features are as shown (Table 1). Most (81.6%) primary caregivers were female. The sample’s SVI was 0.87 ±0.203, reflecting high social vulnerability. At trial enrollment among this sub-sample (mean 11.8 ±5.4 months prior to the survey), youth (mean age 14.2 ±1.9 years) reported depressive symptoms more frequently than their caregivers: 58.3% vs.15.8%, p=.004.
Eight (22.2%) youth in the pandemic survey reported having experienced one or more of the mental health symptoms asked about, most frequently loneliness (Table 2). In contrast to depressive symptoms at HABIT enrollment, fewer youth than caregivers reported depression (5.6% vs. 21.1%, p=0.02) or anxiety (2.8% vs. 23.7%, p=0.008). Despite these differences, approximately half of both groups lacked optimism about the future (“not feeling hopeful”). More youth than caregivers had experienced changes in work or school routines (83.3% vs. 52.6%, p=0.001).
Per caregiver survey, two youth (5.6%) and 5 caregivers (13.2%) had a history of a mental or behavioral condition. Two youth and four caregivers (10.5%) reported use of a non-medical substance (alcohol, marijuana and/or non-medical drug), and two from each group had experienced verbal abuse from a parent/partner. Three youth (8.4%) and five caregivers (13.2%) reported food insecurity.
In six dyads (17.6%), one or both members reported one or more “red flag” issues, including daily mental health symptoms, substance or verbal abuse, and/or food insecurity and were referred to their site’s social service resources for follow up and intervention if needed.