Anxiety symptoms and disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Table_2.docx

“…In the present study, the prevalence of anxiety among children, based on a CAQ score of ≥9 and an NRS score of ≥8, was 24.9% (n = 226) and 34.9% (n = 316), respectively. These results endorse a systematic review and meta-analysis that shows that anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in the second wave of COVID-19 than in the first wave of COVID-19 (5). The results underscore the significance of consistently examining anxiety in children within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…However, notably, 3.5% of the children attended presential class. Moreover, research shows an increase in mental health symptoms because of school closure (4,5,27). A systematic review and metaanalysis included 868,634 children and adolescents (≤ 19 years) pre-pandemic and 807,480 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.…”

“…A global meta-analysis of 74 studies from 2023, which included 478,882 participants (mean age = 13.4 years, 52.3% female) shows the pooled rate of children and adolescents fulfilling diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders was 13.0% (95% confidence intervals (CI) =4.9-30.1); the pooled prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 26.5% (95%CI = 20.3-33.9). Anxiety symptoms were significantly more prevalent in females than males (B = 0.103, p < 0.001), significantly higher during the second wave of COVID-19, following July 2020, than during the first wave, prior to June 2020, (Q = 8.136, p = 0.017), and during school closure (Q = 8.100, p = 0.014) (5). Another metaanalysis of 191 studies, which included 1,389,447 children and adolescents, indicated that the pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms from 129 studies (n = 524,417) was 31% (95% CI 27-35%); and the prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms was 19% (95% CI 15-24%), 13% (95% CI 10-16%), and 6% (95% CI 4-9%), respectively.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than many of us expected. Researchers considered that more studies on the 2nd and 3rd waves of COVID-19 are needed to evaluate the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of young people (5).…”

Table_1.docx

“…A global meta-analysis of 74 studies from 2023, which included 478,882 participants (mean age = 13.4 years, 52.3% female) shows the pooled rate of children and adolescents fulfilling diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders was 13.0% (95% confidence intervals (CI) =4.9-30.1); the pooled prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 26.5% (95%CI = 20.3-33.9). Anxiety symptoms were significantly more prevalent in females than males (B = 0.103, p < 0.001), significantly higher during the second wave of COVID-19, following July 2020, than during the first wave, prior to June 2020, (Q = 8.136, p = 0.017), and during school closure (Q = 8.100, p = 0.014) (5). Another metaanalysis of 191 studies, which included 1,389,447 children and adolescents, indicated that the pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms from 129 studies (n = 524,417) was 31% (95% CI 27-35%); and the prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms was 19% (95% CI 15-24%), 13% (95% CI 10-16%), and 6% (95% CI 4-9%), respectively.…”