Background: COVID-19 outbreak and the followed confinement measures have raised concerns to specialists worldwide regarding the imminent increase in domestic violence cases. The present systematic review aims to identify the international trends in domestic violence during the COVID-19 epidemic and to examine the possible differences among all population groups and different geographic areas worldwide. Method: The following databases were accessed: DOAJ, ERIC, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Pubmed, PsycNet, and SCOPUS, up to July 22, 2020. Results: A total of 32 studies were considered eligible. Data from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific Area, Africa, and worldwide researches were retrieved. COVID-19 has caused an increase in domestic violence cases, especially during the first week of the COVID-19 lockdown in each country. In children, however, although the specialists’ estimations suggested an increase in child maltreatment and abuse cases, the rate of police and social services’ reports has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures that isolated students at home seemed to have contributed to this decrease. Conclusions: Domestic violence has been a considerable issue imposed by the COVID-19 epidemic to a worldwide context. The home confinement led to constant contact between perpetrators and victims, resulting in increased violence and decreased reports. In order to minimize such issues, prevention measures and supporting programs are necessary.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to special circumstances and changes to everyday life due to the worldwide measures that were imposed such as lockdowns. This review aims to evaluate obesity in children, adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A literature search was conducted to evaluate pertinent studies up to 10 November 2020. Results: A total of 15 articles were eligible; 9 identified 17,028,111 children, adolescents and young adults from 5–25 years old, 5 pertained to studies with an age admixture (n = 20,521) and one study included parents with children 5–18 years old (n = 584). During the COVID-19 era, children, adolescents and young adults gained weight. Changes in dietary behaviors, increased food intake and unhealthy food choices including potatoes, meat and sugary drinks were noted during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity associated with financial reasons represents another concern. Moreover, as the restrictions imposed reduced movements out of the house, physical activity was limited, representing another risk factor for weight gain. Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions disrupted the everyday routine of children, adolescents and young adults and elicited changes in their eating behaviors and physical activity. To protect them, health care providers should highlight the risk of obesity and provide prevention strategies, ensuring also parental participation. Worldwide policies, guidelines and precautionary measures should ideally be established.

This Letter presents the main findings of a systematic review of 21 studies (n = 33 398) on the psychosocial consequences of COVID-19 in children, adolescents, and young adults, following the PRISMA guidelines; the background, methods and results are presented as an online Supplement. According to our findings, excess worrying, irritability, home confinement, and fear of COVID-19 infection and transmission are associated with mild to severe anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 epidemic. 1 Isolation could be a risk factor for deterioration in mental health, including depressive and anxiety symptoms, distress, fear, post-traumatic stress, and insomnia. 2 Regarding anxiety disorders, the fear of COVID-19, widely known as 'coronaphobia,' has enhanced anxiety symptoms, with a further aggravating role mediated by isolation at home. 2 Individuals with anxiety disorders tend to be preoccupied with excessive hand-washing, extreme cautiousness, social distancing measures and unnecessary shopping. 3 Furthermore, a strong correlation between family relations and fear of contracting COVID-19 was noted. 4 Focusing especially on COVID-19-infected patients, they were also affected, expressing high anxiety levels, as reported in SARS and MERS patients in the past. 5 states among school-age children with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder during the COVID-19 outbreak.