Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Developmental Vulnerabilities and Mental Health: Implications for Children and Adolescents in Alberta Using an Evidence-Based Approach
Creators: Talarico, Fernanda
Publisher: name: University of Alberta Library
Year: 2024

<p>This paper-based thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into developmental vulnerability and mental health-related utilization in young individuals, including physicians’ office visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, utilizing population-level data. The primary objectives include identifying risk factors contributing to developmental vulnerability in children, developing a machine learning-based approach for early detection of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) based on early developmental vulnerability domains and social-environment-biological variables, and exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young individuals. <br>
The first section focuses on early childhood development using the Early Development Instrument (EDI). The first paper identifies risk factors for developmental vulnerability among kindergarten children using the 2016 EDI combined with linked population-wide administrative health datasets. The study reveals significant associations between developmental vulnerability and mental illness, biological male sex, and poor socioeconomic status. The second paper applies machine learning techniques to prospectively detect ADHD in kindergarten-aged children, developing a model that reliably predicts case-defined ADHD, emphasizing the potential for early diagnosis and intervention.<br>
The second section explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health utilization of young individuals and changes in the pattern of mental health utilization in Alberta. The first paper of this section, the third paper of the thesis, investigates the association between developmental vulnerability and healthcare utilization among children in Alberta from 2016 to 2022. Vulnerable children exhibited, on average, more mental health-related healthcare service utilization compared to non-vulnerable children. Moreover, a consistent linear increase in the utilization of mental health-related services is observed, particularly among male vulnerable children. The fourth paper highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among Albertans. A retrospective, cohort study using administrative health records in Alberta revealed a rise in mental health service utilization in the post-pandemic onset era, particularly among adolescents, with anxiety and mood disorders-related utilization being the most prominent contributor diseases. The fifth and final paper of the thesis investigates the seasonal patterns in mental health utilization, identifying altered seasonal patterns after the pandemic onset, especially during the first months of the pandemic. <br>
Altogether, this work contributes to the field of mental health and public health by identifying population-level risk factors, utilizing machine learning for the early detection of ADHD, and addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young individuals’ mental health. The implications extend to policy, practice, and future research, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, support for mental health services, and continued exploration of childhood developmental vulnerability. </p>