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BiB scientist awarded | 18.10.2023Prize for research on the consequences of the corona pandemic for children and young people
Dr. Helena Ludwig-Walz wins second place in the Stephan Weiland Prize 2023 with her study on the increase in depression in children and adolescents during the corona pandemic. The Stephan Weiland Prize is awarded by the German Society for Epidemiology. The award rewards outstanding research work by young epidemiologists. There were 3 prize winners in total.
Dr. Helena Ludwig-Walz
Source: © Reyk Ludwig
Analyses of studies on the development of depression in children and adolescents
In their excellent study "Increase of depression among children and adolescents after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis" Helena Ludwig-Walz together with Indra Dannheim, Lisa M. Pfadenhauer, Jörg M. Fegert and Martin Bujard (BiB) investigated changes in depression symptoms among children and adolescents during the coronal pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times. They use a broad European database with 22 studies from eight countries in Europe with data before and after the pandemic.
By including different measures to contain the pandemic, such as school closures, in the analysis, it was also possible to examine the effects of these measures on depression trajectories.
Increase in depression among children and adolescents
The evaluations show a correlation between corona-related school closures and an increase in depression symptoms in children and adolescents. Furthermore, the results show an increase in general depressive symptoms overall and especially in male adolescents aged 16 to 19. In girls, on the other hand, the number of clinically relevant depressive symptoms has increased.
Original publication
Ludwig-Walz, Helena; Dannheim, Indra; Pfadenhauer, Lisa M.; Fegert, Jörg M.; Bujard, Martin (2022): Increase of depression among children and adolescents after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis. In: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Mental Health 16 (109).