A Mediation Analysis of Academic Resilience Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Worries

Objective This study examines the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related worries on academic resilience among adolescents, with a focus on the mediating roles of depression, social protective factors, and adverse experiences. Additionally, the study explores how demographic factors, including age, gender, and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) status influenced these relationships. Method Data were collected from 2,584 adolescents who completed a survey assessing pandemic worries, academic resilience, depressive symptoms, social protective factors, and adverse experiences. Mediation analysis was conducted using Hayes' PROCESS Model 6, while path analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in JASP with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Results Findings revealed a significant negative direct effect of pandemic worries on academic resilience (\(\:\beta\:\) = -0.0568, p \(\:<\) 0.05). Depression emerged as the strongest mediator (\(\:\beta\:\) = -0.1208, p \(\:<\) 0.001), highlighting its critical role in explaining the link between pandemic worries and academic difficulties. Social protective factors mitigated some negative effects, but the impact of pandemic worries remained statistically significant (\(\:\beta\:\) = -0.0101, p \(\:<\) 0.05). Gender and LGBTQ status influenced these effects, with LGBTQ-identifying students reporting significantly higher pandemic worries, depression, and adverse experiences. Conclusions The findings highlight the complex interactions between pandemic-related stressors, mental health, and academic resilience. Depression served as a key pathway through which pandemic worries affected learning adaptation, while social support helped mitigate some of these effects. The study highlights the need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly for LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable groups, and calls for further research on long-term academic outcomes following crisis-related disruptions.