COVID-19 impact and trends in health of school-aged children from 2006-2022 in Luxembourg - Report on the Luxembourg HBSC Survey 2022

This report provides information on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the life of 11-18 year old adolescents attending public and private schools whose teaching is based on the national curriculum in 2022.This report also describes how adolescents’ (mental) health, health behaviour and perception of their social context have evolved before and through the pandemic.
A (very) positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was reported more frequently than a (very) negative impact in all the examined areas. However, the corresponding proportions varied considerably. Mental health and school performance were the two areas that were the most negatively impacted by the pandemic. Relationships with family and friends were the most positively impacted areas. Physical activity was the third most positively impacted area as well as the third most negatively impacted one. In addition, girls, older adolescents, and adolescents from lower family affluence reported a (very) negative impact more frequently than their counterparts. The perception of (very) positive impacts was higher in boys, younger adolescents, and adolescents from a high family affluence background. A large gender gap in favour of boys was observed in the perception of the pandemic impact on adolescents’ mental health. Trends in life satisfaction and, especially, in multiple health complaints support adolescent girl’s view that their mental health was particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, it should be noted that the proportion of answers stressing a (very) negative impact of the pandemic on family financial situation was significantly higher in adolescents from a lower affluence background. This finding might reflect an increase in socioeconomic inequalities due to the pandemic.