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.