Child wellbeing in the United Kingdom following the COVID-19 lockdowns

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to huge changes to children’s daily lives including school closures, loss of contact with family and friends, and financial difficulties which impacted on the wellbeing of all children. The Social Determinants of Health model gives us a framework to consider the impact of lockdown directly on children, and indirectly through the impact on parents, families, community and government policy as children cannot be considered in isolation to families or society. Children have suffered directly with lack of access to healthcare, and a decline in their mental health. Infant bonding may have been affected due to maternal stress, anxiety or depression, compounded by limited Health Visitor support. Poverty, food insecurity and lack of exercise contributed to increased obesity. Many children will have been exposed to domestic violence, parental mental illness and child abuse without being able to tell teachers or other adults outside of the home, these Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) increase the risk for subsequent health and behaviour problems. Children have spent many hours online for school learning and socialising with friends but faced risks of criminal exploitation and grooming. The long-term financial implications of COVID-19 will continue to impact on society for many years to come and further increase social inequalities.

The Influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Pain Management: Mechanisms, Processes, and Trauma-Informed Care

“…However, COVID-19 has not only impacted healthcare service pressures, it has also caused significant psychosocial disruptions in the home. Parental stress, depression, financial burden, and substance abuse are all risk factors for child abuse and maltreatment (153). Each of these factors have been exacerbated by the socioeconomic and psychological costs of the COVID-19 pandemic (154).…”

Impacto del confinamiento en niños y adolescentes a partir de la pandemia de COVID- 19

“…Un área preocupante relacionada con la pandemia resulta la violencia infantil. Para un niño que vive violencia doméstica el confinamiento debió ser desafiante, sin embargo, las notificaciones de violencia disminuyeron (37,38). Antes de la pandemia y el confinamiento muchas de las denuncias eran realizadas por los maestros, por tanto, creemos que actualmente el problema no es visible y supone un aumento de ésta debido a las cercanías del niño con los agresores y la escasez de apoyo social.…”

“…El ambiente escolar es un ambiente favorable porque permite el desarrollo de estrategias de afrontamiento para los niños y adolescentes. El maestro debe estar accesible al niño y adolescente y debe estar preparado para atender y manejar estas situaciones de violencia (37,38). Se hace necesario buscar alternativas adecuadas que permitan solucionar urgentemente esta situación de vulnerabilidad en que se encuentran los niños en situaciones de violencia.…”

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“…In addition to being a risk factor for severe childhood COVID-19 illness, 1 the post COVID-18 consequences of social isolation has clearly left many youth far worse off and vulnerable to obesity than pre pandemic times, as well as impacting their mental health negatively. 2,3 As well as the long-term and short term physical and mental health challenges incurred by the overweight or obese youngster, 4 there are multiple obvious adverse impacts of childhood obesity, including its negative impact on academic outcomes, as well as social and possible economic health outcomes and correlates. 5 Considered to be one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21 st century, the dire predictions concerning rates of obesity among children, 5 and that clearly underpins the continuing demonstrated decline in their mental health status among youth, 6 warrants urgent attention.…”