BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience ISSN: 2068-0473 | e-ISSN: 2067-3957 Covered in: Web of Science (WOS); PubMed.gov; IndexCopernicus; The Linguist List; Google Academic; Ulrichs; getCITED; Genamics JournalSeek; J-Gate; SHERPA/RoMEO; Dayang Journal System; Public Knowledge Project; BIUM; NewJour; ArticleReach Direct; Link+; CSB; CiteSeerX; Socolar; KVK; WorldCat; CrossRef; Ideas RePeC; Econpapers; Socionet. 2022, Volume 13, Issue 1, pages: 420-425 | https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/13.1/291 Adolescents during the Pandemic. Difficulties and Adaptive Strategies Elena Otilia VLADISLAV¹, Gabriela MARC2, Ovidiu POP3, Corina-Ioana PAICA4, Diana-Antonia IORDACHESCU5 1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania, vladislav.elena.otilia@gmail.com 2 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania 3 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania 4 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania 5 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania Abstract: This paper is a scientific research conducted during the alert state on a sample of 450 adolescents. The main aim of the study is to identify the socio-emotional difficulties of adolescents and the adaptive ways they use during crisis situations, such as the coronavirus pandemic. The research questions refer on the one hand to the concerns about the pandemic context and the possibility of infection, social activities, the online school curriculum, and on the other hand to the association between clinical and adaptive variables and coping mechanisms, as well as coping strategies that are predictors of adaptive scales and moderators that are key to understanding adolescents' condition. The results indicate that the use of functional strategies, such as support strategies, in which support, social relationships and emotional adjustment predominate, can stimulate increased self- confidence in the context of the pandemic. In fact, the results support the relationship with parents and social support in times of crisis. Keywords: Adolescents, socio-emotional difficulties, pandemic, clinical scales, adaptive scales, coping. How to cite: Vladislav, E.O., Marc, G., Pop, O., Paica, C.- I., Iordachescu, D.-A. (2022). Adolescents during the Pandemic. Difficulties and Adaptive Strategies. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 13(1), 420-425. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/13.1/291 https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/13.1/291 mailto:vladislav.elena.otilia@gmail.com https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/13.1/291 BRAIN. Broad Research in March, 2022 Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience Volume 13, Issue 1 421 Introduction This scientific research aims to understand the socio-emotional difficulties faced by adolescents and the adaptive ways they have during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Several authors point out that the coronavirus pandemic (COVID- 19) has affected people around the world (Damian et al., 2021; Huidu, 2020; Neculau, 2021; Sandu & Nistor, 2021), and isolation, social contact restrictions, economic closure have imposed a complete change in the psychosocial environment of the affected countries (Grigoras & Ciubara 2021). The current situation affects children, adolescents and their families in an exceptional way. Kindergartens and schools were closed, social contacts were severely limited, and leisure activities outside the home were canceled or reduced (Luca, Baroiu et al, 2020; Fegert et al., 2020; Phelps & Sperry, 2020; Ravens - Sieberer et al., 2021). At the same time, researchers show that adolescence is a sensitive period for social development, in which there is an increased need for social interactions (Luca, Burlea et al., 2020; Orben et al., 2020). It can be very difficult for adolescents to cope with the current situation and follow the current rules and restrictions, as these circumstances can be experienced as inconsistent with their development, which involves several activities and tasks. Currently, there is a growing interest in researching the mental health of children and adolescents during the coronavirus pandemic. Zhou et al. (2020) report that 44% of young people aged 12 to 18 had depressive symptoms, 37% had anxiety and 31% had both types of symptoms. High levels of depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents were also obtained by Duan et al. (2020) and Luca, Ciubara et al. (2020). Research Methodology The main objective of the present study is to explore the difficulties and adaptive strategies of adolescents during the coronavirus pandemic. The research questions refer on the one hand to the concerns about the pandemic context and the possibility of infection, social activities, the online school curriculum, and on the other hand to the association between clinical and adaptive variables and coping mechanisms, as well as coping strategies that are predictors of adaptive scales and moderators that are key to understanding adolescents' condition. The sample consists of 450 adolescents: 63.2% girls (m = 15.63 and SD = 1.92) and 36.8% boys (m = 15.31 and SD = 1.98). The participants of Adolescents during the Pandemic. Difficulties and Adaptive Strategies Elena Otilia VLADISLAV, et al. 422 this sample were selected randomly, by distributing the questionnaire online. The environment of origin is urban and rural, from several areas of the country. There were no exclusion criteria regarding the medical and psychological status for the selection of the sample. Data were collected between May 2020 and February 2021. The two assessment tools used are the Behavior Assessment System for Children Second Edition (BASC-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004) and the Coping Strategies Checklist for Children-Revised (CCSC-R; Ayers & Sandler, 1999). Research Results The data indicate that depression levels correlate negatively with distraction strategies (p = .001) and support strategies (p = .000) and positively with avoidance strategies (p = .050). The results obtained indicate that the higher the score on the Depression Scale, the less the adolescent participants use the support strategies and the more the avoidance ones. Anxiety score correlates negatively with distraction strategies (p = .004) and positively with avoidance strategies (p = .000). The stronger the anxiety, the less teenagers use functional distraction strategies and the more dysfunctional avoidance strategies they use. The degree of somatization correlates negatively with distraction strategies (p = .009). It follows that adolescents who tend to somatize have reduced abilities to get rid of problems, while attention problems correlate negatively with distraction strategies (p = .003) and support strategies (p = .002). Also, the level of hyperactivity correlates positively with avoidance strategies (p = .018) and it should be noted that active coping strategies are not used in the context of the pandemic. Table 1. Clinical scales and coping Source: authors’ own conception Active_copi ng Restructuri ng Distraction Avoidan ce Support Depression r -.018 -.089 -.159* .092* -.181* p .699 .060 .001 .050 .000 Anxiety r .073 -.029 -.136* .198* -.026 p .122 .536 .004 .000 .580 Somatization r -.007 -.029 -.123* .077 -.076 p .882 .537 .009 .101 .108 Attention_pro bl r -.066 -.076 -.141* -0.15 -.147* BRAIN. Broad Research in March, 2022 Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience Volume 13, Issue 1 423 p .163 .109 .003 .755 .002 Hiperactivity r .012 .036 .022 .111* .044 p .792 .445 .638 .018 .347 The results of the correlational tests indicate that the level of self- esteem correlates positively with the strategies of positive cognitive restructuring (p = .000), distraction (p = .000) and support (p = .000); the level of self-confidence correlates positively with the strategies of active coping (p = .007), distraction (p = .000), avoidance (p = .000), support (p = .000), and the scale score on relationships adolescents with parents positively correlate with distraction strategies (p = .000) and support (p = .001). Table 2. Adaptative scales and coping Source: authors’ own conception Active_coping Restructuring Distraction Avoidance Support Self-esteem r .088 .177 .286 -.009 .202 p .061 .000 .000 .851 .000 Self-confidence r .126 .086 .211 .196 .227 p .007 .067 .000 .000 .000 Relationship with parents r .031 .021 .204 .043 .150 p .514 .663 .000 .362 .001 Discussions and Conclusions Uncertainty about the future and fear of the unknown cause anxiety among adolescents, who are not only worried about being infected with the SARS-VOC-2 virus, but also about resuming social activities. The restrictions were more complicated for teenagers, who considered the pandemic a very serious problem (64%). In addition, attention problems are more numerous in the pandemic context, and the higher their level, the more difficult it is for adolescents to go through the new challenges. The use of functional strategies, such as support strategies, in which support, social relationships and emotional adaptation predominate, can stimulate increased self-confidence in the context of the pandemic. In fact, the results support the relationship with parents and social support in times of crisis. Adolescents during the Pandemic. Difficulties and Adaptive Strategies Elena Otilia VLADISLAV, et al. 424 Finally, taking into account the results that analyze the correlations between psychopathology scales and coping strategies, it is necessary to emphasize the role of psychological counseling and educational counseling. Adolescents need guidance in activating and optimizing coping resources during this period, for better management of the difficult situation. References Ayers, T. A., & Sandler, I. N. (1999). Manual for the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist & How I Coped Under Pressure Scale. Arizona State Prevention Research Center. Damian, S. I., Schiopu C., & Stefănescu, C. (2021). Neuro-bio-chemical balance within deviant delinquent behaviors in adolescents. International Journal of Legal Medicine (2021) 135 (Suppl 1), S11–S119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02613-z Duan, L., Shao, X., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Miao, J., Yang, X., & Zhu, G. (2020). An investigation of mental health status of children and adolescents in china during the outbreak of COVID-19. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 112– 118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.029 Fegert, J. M., Vitiello, B., Plener, P. L., & Clemens, V. (2020). Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: a narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs in the acute phase and the long return to normality. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 14, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-020-00329-3 Grigoras, M., & Ciubara, A. (2021). Looking into Pandora’s Box between "Everything" and "But" -Depression, Pain of Losses the Next Pandemic of Humanity?. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 12(2), 326-334. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/12.2/210 Huidu, A. (2020). The social responsibility of researchers in combating fake news and conspiracy theories during a pandemic. Postmodern Openings, 11(1Sup2), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.18662/po/11.1sup2/138 Luca, L., Baroiu, L., Ciubara, A. B., Anghel, R., Bulgaru-Iliescu, A. I., Anghel, L., & Ciubara, A. (2020). Covid-19 and the Spanish Flu. From Suffering to Resilience. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 11(3Sup1), 01-07. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/11.3Sup1/116 Luca, L., Burlea, S. L., Chirosca, A. C., Marin, I. M., Ciubara, A. B., & Ciubara, A. (2020). The FOMO syndrome and the perception of personal needs in contemporary society. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 11(1Sup1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/11.1Sup1/27 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02613-z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.029 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-020-00329-3 https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/12.2/210 https://doi.org/10.18662/po/11.1sup2/138 https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/11.3Sup1/116 https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/11.1Sup1/27 BRAIN. Broad Research in March, 2022 Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience Volume 13, Issue 1 425 Luca, L., Ciubara, A. B., Fulga, I., Burlea, S. L., Terpan, M., & Ciubara, A. M. (2020). Social Implications for Psychiatric Pathology of Depressive and Anxiety Disorders, Alcohol Addiction and Psychotic Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania. Analysis of two Relevant Psychiatry Hospitals. Revista de cercetare si interventie sociala, 69, 261-272. https://doi.org/10.33788/rcis.69.16 Neculau, M. C. (2021). Intentional identities of the future nurses in professional identity construction. Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty: Social Sciences, 9(2), 26-43. https://doi.org/10.18662/lumenss/9.2/42 Orben, A., Tomova, L., & Blakemore, S. J. (2020). The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health. Lancet Child & Adolescent Health 4(8), 634–640. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30186-3 Phelps, C., & Sperry, L. L. (2020). Children and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), S73–S75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000861 Ravens-Sieberer, U.,· Kaman, A., Erhart, M., Devine, J., Schlack, R., & Otto, C. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents in Germany. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01726-5 Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2004). Behavior assessment system for children (2nd ed.). American Guidance Service. Sandu, A., & Nistor, P. (2021). Group syntality - causes, effects, manifestations. Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty: Social Sciences, 9(2), 84-88. https://doi.org/10.18662/lumenss/9.2/46 Zhou, S. J., Zhang, L. G., Wang, L. L., Guo, Z. C., Wang, J. Q., Chen, J. C., Liu, M., Chen, X., & Chen, J. X. (2020). Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychological health problems in Chinese adolescents during the outbreak of COVID-19. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(6), 749–758. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01541-4 https://doi.org/10.33788/rcis.69.16 https://doi.org/10.18662/lumenss/9.2/42 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30186-3 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000861 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01726-5 https://doi.org/10.18662/lumenss/9.2/46 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01541-4