Identifying vulnerable children’s stress levels and coping measures during COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a mixed method study

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable children and youth. In Japan, despite evidence that the paediatric age group holds a lower risk of infection than the older population, there was a nationwide closure of schools as an early public health measure. Acknowledging that school closures brought heightened psychological and physical stress among Japanese children, we aimed to explore vulnerable children’s experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, focusing on socially disadvantaged subset of the population.MethodsWe used an adapted version of the ‘Perceived Stress Scale for Children’, with additional free-text space, delivered online to children attending three non-profit organisations which provide support for this group of vulnerable persons and families experiencing social disadvantage. Simple descriptive analysis was undertaken on the quantitative data; we used thematic and content analysis for the qualitative data.ResultsThirty-six children participated in the online survey, mean age was 11.3 years, majority (61%) were male. The mean overall stress score (score distribution width: 0–39) was 14.8, with no difference in score distribution by age or gender. Free-text responses obtained revealed a range of stressors and protective factors. Schooling, COVID-19 fears, family tension and pandemic measures were sources of stress; family—in particular, the support of the mother—food, friendship and recreation were sources of comfort. While most responses indicated positive coping mechanisms, some displayed maladaptive behaviours.ConclusionsThe children in this cohort had high mean stress scores overall. Responses indicated that they were acutely reactive to COVID-19 as well as pandemic public health measures, and that missing schooling and contact with friends exacerbated their stress. Family was a source of strength as well as stress. A tailored public health response to COVID-19 needs to take into account the concerns voiced by vulnerable child populations be based on equity and child rights.

Did Inequalities in Mothers’ and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Japan Increase through the Pandemic? Evidence from Nationwide Surveys and Routinely Collected Data

“…Many also showed positive coping, being supported by family and friends. However, a small number of children exhibited poor coping, and we advocated that a public health response to COVID-19 should be responsive to the needs and concerns voiced by CYP and be evidence-informed with respect to school closures [ 14 ].…”

“…In Japan, the number of abuse consultation cases increased during the pandemic, increasing by 6% in 2020 and continuing to increase up to 2022 (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) [ 13 ]. We published a mixed methods study [ 14 ] including stress scales from children experiencing social and financial disadvantage and free-text comments from them between August and November 2020. This cohort of vulnerable children in Japan had high overall stress scores during the early part of the pandemic.…”

The Effect of Pythagorean Self-Awareness on Heart Rate Variability, Perceived Stress and Behavior of Preschool Children

“…Since then, it has been used globally. For example, it has been used in a study on perceived stress among Japanese students during the COVID-19 quarantine [ 23 ], in a study of perceived stress in relation to school performance before and after physical activity in South African primary school children [ 24 ], in a study of the lifestyles of children in the developing world [ 25 ], in a study of arts therapy for reducing stress in children in the United States [ 26 ] and in a research on stress reduction and management in US elementary school students [ 27 ].…”

The voices of children and young people during COVID‐19: A critical review of methods

“…The unfolding COVID‐19 pandemic in early 2020 affected children and young people across countries and continents in a myriad of ways. 5 , 6 , 7 This early period was critical for many of them as they were experiencing school closures and living in lockdown. The restrictive measures applied by governments made it even more difficult for researchers to reach out to children and young people with rights‐based methods designed to engage them as participants to solicit their non‐proxied voices to address the impact of COVID‐19 on them.…”

“…The unfolding COVID‐19 pandemic in early 2020 affected children and young people across countries and continents in a myriad of ways 5‐7 . This early period was critical for many of them as they were experiencing school closures and living in lockdown.…”