Studies in recent years and especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown a significant increase in the problematic use of computer games and social media. Adolescents having difficulties in regulating their unpleasant emotions are especially prone to Problematic Internet Use (PIU), which is why emotion dysregulation has been considered a risk factor for PIU. The aim of the present study was to assess problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents after the third wave (nearly 1.5 years after the onset in Europe) of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the German region of Siegen-Wittgenstein, all students 12 years and older from secondary-level schools, vocational schools and universities were offered a prioritized vaccination in August 2021 with an approved vaccine against COVID-19. In this context, the participants filled out the Short Compulsive Internet Use Scale (SCIUS) and two additional items to capture a possible change in digital media usage time and regulation of negative affect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of PIU. The original sample consisted of 1477 participants, and after excluding invalid cases the final sample size amounted to 1268 adolescents aged 12–17 (x = 14.37 years, SD = 1.64). The average prevalence of PIU was 43.69%. Gender, age, digital media usage time and the intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were all found to be significant predictors of PIU: female gender, increasing age, longer digital media usage time and higher intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher SCIUS total scores. This study found a very high prevalence of PIU among 12- to 17-year-olds for the period after the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic prevalence rates. PIU is emerging as a serious problem among young people in the pandemic. Besides gender and age, pandemic-associated time of digital media use and emotion regulation have an impact on PIU, which provides starting points for preventive interventions.

Evaluations after the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany showed an increase in mental health problems and a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the study was to assess those aspects after the third wave of COVID-19 in adolescents who decided to receive a vaccination. In students aged 12–17 years recruited from schools in one German region, mental health (by the strengths and difficulties questionnaire, SDQ) and HRQoL (by KIDSCREEN-10) were assessed by both a self- and parental report. Data from 1412 adolescents (mean age 14.3 years, SD = 1.64) and 908 parents were collected. The mean self-reported HRQoL was T = 53.7 (SD = 11.2), significantly higher in boys than in girls and higher in younger (12–14 years) than in older (15–17 years) adolescents. In total, 18.7% of adolescents reported clinically relevant psychological symptoms, especially peer problems (23.5%), emotional problems (17.4%), and hyperactivity (17.1%). Comparing the present data to evaluations after the first and second waves of COVID-19, adolescents rated a higher HRQoL and reported less mental health problems after the third wave. After 1.5 years of living with the pandemic, adolescents have adapted to the changes in everyday life. Further, the relaxation of restrictions, better school organization, and the prospect of the vaccination may have increased optimism, wellbeing, and contentment, leading to declining but still alarming rates of psychological symptoms.

Purpose: In contrast to adults, immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents with natural or hybrid immunity is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze different immune compartments in different age groups and whether humoral immune reactions correlate with a cellular immune response. Methods: 72 children and adolescents with a preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited. 37 were vaccinated with an RNA vaccine (BNT162b2). Humoral immunity was analyzed 3–26 months (median 10 months) after infection by measuring Spike protein (S), nucleocapsid (NCP), and neutralizing antibodies (nAB). Cellular immunity was analyzed using a SARS-CoV-2-specific interferon-γ release assay (IGRA). Results: All children and adolescents had S antibodies; titers were higher in those with hybrid immunity (14,900 BAU/ml vs. 2118 BAU/ml). NCP antibodies were detectable in > 90%. Neutralizing antibodies (nAB) were more frequently detected (90%) with higher titers (1914 RLU) in adolescents with hybrid immunity than in children with natural immunity (62.5%, 476 RLU). Children with natural immunity were less likely to have reactive IGRAs (43.8%) than adolescents with hybrid immunity (85%). The amount of interferon-γ released by T cells was comparable in natural and hybrid immunity. Conclusion: Spike antibodies are the most reliable markers to monitor an immune reaction against SARS-CoV-2. High antibody titers of spike antibodies and nAB correlated with cellular immunity, a phenomenon found only in adolescents with hybrid immunity. Hybrid immunity is associated with markedly higher antibody titers and a higher probability of a cellular immune response than a natural immunity.

Given the crucial role of vaccination in halting the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to understand the factors that motivate adolescents to get vaccinated. We surveyed adolescents and their accompanying guardians scheduled to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) in an urban region in Germany in mid-2021 regarding their motivation for getting vaccinated and collected data on their sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, vaccination status, and any history of COVID-19 infection in the family. We also queried information strategies related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Motivations for getting vaccinated were similar among adolescents and their parents. The primary reasons for vaccination were protection against SARS-CoV-2-related illness and gaining access to leisure facilities. This was not influenced by gender, health status, migration background, or the presence of chronic or acute diseases. The percentage of parents who had received SARS-CoV-2 immunization and the proportion of parents with a high level of education were higher among study participants than in the general population. Adolescents were especially willing to be vaccinated if they came from a better educational environment and had a high vaccination rate in the family. Emphasizing the importance of vaccination among all segments of the population and removing barriers to vaccines may lead to an ameliorated acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Purpose The immune protection in children and adolescents with natural or hybrid immunity (vaccination & infection) against SARS-CoV-2 remains an understudied field. Aim of this study was to analyze different immune compartments in different age groups and whether humoral immune reactions correlate with a cellular immune response.Methods 72 children and adolescents with a preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited. 37 were vaccinated with an RNA-vaccine (BNT162b2). Humoral immunity was analyzed 3 to 26 months (median 10 months) after infection by measuring Spike protein (S), nucleocapsid (NCP) and neutralizing antibodies (nAB). Cellular immunity was analyzed using a SARS-CoV-2 specific interferon-γ release assay (IGRA).Results All children and adolescents had S antibodies; titers were higher in those with hybrid immunity (14900 BAU/ml vs. 2118 BAU/ml). NCP antibodies were detectable in > 90%. Neutralizing antibodies (nAB) were more frequently detected (90%) with higher titers (1914 RLU) in adolescents with hybrid immunity than in children with natural immunity (62,5%, 476 RLU). Children with natural immunity were less likely to have reactive IGRAs (43,8%) than adolescents with hybrid immunity (85%). The amount of interferon-γ released by T cells was comparable in natural and hybrid immunity.Conclusion Spike antibodies are the most reliable markers to monitor an immune reaction against SARS-CoV-2. High antibody titers of Spike antibodies and nAB correlated with cellular immunity, a phenomenon found only in adolescents with hybrid immunity. Hybrid immunity is associated with markedly higher antibody titers (S and nAB) and a higher probability of a cellular immune response than a natural immunity.

Background: Given the crucial role of vaccination in managing and halting the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to understand the factors that motivate adolescents to get vaccinated. However, data on this topic are currently limited. This study aimed to characterize the adolescent population willing to receive COVID-19 vaccination in mid-2021 in an urban region in Germany and to identify the factors that motivated those who accepted vaccination with the mRNA vaccine Comirnaty, which was not yet nationally recommended. Methods: We surveyed adolescents and their accompanying guardians who were scheduled to receive COVID-19 vaccination and collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, the adolescent's medical history, the family's vaccination status, and any history of COVID-19 infection in the family. We also queried information strategies related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and reasons for vaccinating the adolescents. Results: Motivations for getting vaccinated were similar among adolescents and their parents. The primary reasons for vaccination were to protect against SARS-CoV-2-related illness and to gain access to leisure facilities. The adolescents' motivation for vaccination was not influenced by gender, health status, migration background, or presence of chronic or acute diseases. The percentage of parents who had received SARS-CoV-2 immunization and the proportion of parents with a high level of education were higher among study participants than in the general population. Conclusions: Adolescents are especially willing to be vaccinated if they have a better-educated environment and a high vaccination rate in the family. Emphasizing the importance of vaccination among all segments of population and removing barriers to vaccines, may lead to an ameliorated acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.