The relationships of Hungarian adolescents with their friends and family, as well as the health and mental health of those adolescents, were adversely affected by the pandemic in 2022, according to WHO/Europe's collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.
Increased health complaints
The study reveals a significant increase in adolescents reporting multiple health complaints after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most significant increase was observed among 13-year-olds, with a prevalence surge from 33.1% to 50.3%.
In 2022, the percentage of 11–15-year-olds reporting multiple health complaints rose by 13.8% compared to 2018. While both girls and boys experienced a rise in multiple health complaints, the impact was greater among girls, with a surge from 37.1% to 62.2% between 2010–2022, compared to boys who reported a rise from 28.7% to 39.4% over the same period.
“We observed an exceptional increase in multiple health complaints between 2018 and 2022,” says Dr Zsofia Meszner, an infectologist and lead expert at Heim Pal National Institute of Paediatrics. “These complaints could be attributed to the infection itself, the impact of COVID-related measures, and limited access to health care services during the pandemic. The data underscores the need for developing mental health services, long-COVID ambulances and other counselling services as the pandemic’s effects on mental well-being persist.”
Decreased life satisfaction and health
The study also finds that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted adolescents' life satisfaction and health.
Life satisfaction among Hungarian students aged 11–15 decreased between 2018 and 2022. It decreased with age, and boys appeared to be more satisfied with their life than girls.
In terms of health, the proportion of Hungarian students aged 11–15 reporting that their health is excellent decreased significantly over the years. Between 2014 and 2022, this figure dropped by almost 12 percentage points, from 31.5% to 19.7%.
Only 16.1% of 13-year-olds and 17.2% of 15-year-olds reported having excellent health, compared to 25.7% of 11-year-olds.
Data also indicate a decline in health perception among both genders, with girls experiencing a more significant drop from 22.4% in 2018 to 14.8% in 2022 and boys from 30.5% in 2018 to 24.8% in 2022.
These trends might be due to various factors, such as lifestyle changes, the growing prevalence of chronic health conditions or COVID-19 infection itself.
“Surprisingly, younger children seemed to be less vulnerable to the negative health and well-being impacts of the pandemic, partly because they were prioritized by educational authorities in terms of access to in-person schooling,” says Dóra Eszter Várnai, representative of Hungary’s HBSC research team. “However, older students, who spent a prolonged period at home, were more affected by the lack of interaction with their peers. This data also highlights that school settings offer unique opportunities for health and mental health promotion.”
Decreased support from family and peers
The data suggest that adolescents are receiving less support from their families. The percentage of 11–15-year-olds who reported feeling highly supported by families reduced from 82.0% in 2018 to 77.1% in 2022, representing a 4.9 percentage point decline. Boys reported higher rates of high family support than girls, with 80.9% and 73.3%, respectively, and family support decreased with age.
“While the pandemic generally had a positive impact on family and peer relations in most countries, Hungary stands out as an exception. We need a deeper understanding of this particular outcome to enhance families’ coping mechanism and resilience in response to such challenges,” adds Dóra Eszter Várnai.
Adolescents also reported a decrease in emotional support from their peers and friends, with the proportion of those who reported feeling emotionally supported decreasing by almost 5 percentage points between 2018 and 2022, from 76.5% to 72.0%. Girls reported higher levels of peer support than boys.
Support measures for children and families
Various governmental and nongovernmental organizations and professionals, including the national health care system, are supporting children and families impacted by the pandemic.
The Hungarian government has taken proactive steps to address the challenges faced by families by implementing a comprehensive range of measures, including enhanced family support, childcare assistance, financial assistance, and school support.
UNICEF Hungary and Eötvös Loránd University have initiated data collection, prevention, and intervention efforts to address mental health repercussions. UNICEF Hungary has also launched a short mental health intervention programme in primary and secondary schools.
Medical and mental health professionals in Hungary have established post-COVID ambulances in paediatric clinics and hospitals to address the somatic and psychological outcomes of long-COVID symptoms in children.