School Closure, Different Aspects of Relational Life, and Adolescent Psychosomatic Complaints: Evidence From...

To examine the interplay between school closures and multiple aspects of relational life in predicting adolescent psychosomatic complaints, and how such associations vary by feelings of loneliness during closures and across regions.

This study applied multilevel regression models to Programme for International Student Assessment 2022 data from 14 countries (N = 88,215), controlling for covariates. Psychosomatic complaints were measured with the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children symptom checklist. Measures of relational life captured bullying, number of close friends, and social media use.

Social media use was associated with increased psychosomatic complaints. Compared with students who did not experience school closure, those who experienced it for less than 6 months or for 6 months or longer reported more complaints. Interactions indicated that among students with long-term closure, greater social media use was associated with fewer complaints. During closure, bullying and having more close friends were linked to higher complaints. Associations were stronger among adolescents who felt lonely during closure. Finally, geographic differences were examined. In East Asia, having more close friends was associated with fewer adolescent psychosomatic complaints, despite students in this region reporting the lowest average number of close friends.

This study underscores the importance of addressing relational factors, particularly loneliness and digital connectivity, when designing adolescent mental health interventions during and beyond large-scale disruptions.