Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impaired the quality of life (QoL) for many due to its extensive impacts. However, few studies have addressed the specific impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study considered the impact of COVID-19–related PTSD on the QoL of adolescents in China, and the mediating effects of insomnia and the moderating effects of resilience. Participants included 50,666 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years selected using a comprehensive sampling method. We employed the Child Event Impact Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Psychological Resilience Scale, and Child and Adolescent Health-Related Quality of Life Scale for data collection. Male adolescents exhibited significantly lower levels of PTSD and insomnia compared to females, and scored significantly higher in psychological resilience and overall QoL. Insomnia played a mediating role between PTSD and QoL. Psychological resilience moderated the impact of COVID-19-related stress on adolescents’ QoL through its influence on insomnia. PTSD resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic affects the QoL of adolescents through the presence of insomnia. Psychological resilience plays a moderating role in this process. Cultivating psychological resilience in adolescents can effectively enhance their ability to cope with the impacts of sudden public events.