Immediate and longer-term changes in mental health of children with parent–child separation experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been understudied among vulnerable populations. This study aimed to examine the immediate and longer-term changes in the mental health of children with parent–child separation experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify potential buffering opportunities for mental health. Methods This longitudinal cohort study used data from 723 rural Chinese children who provided data before (Oct. 2019) the COVID-19 pandemic and during the following 2 years. Changes in the probability of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, non-suicide self-injurious (NSSI), suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt were tested across four waves using generalized estimating models (GEE). Results Compared with children who never experienced parent–child separation, children persistently separated from parents since birth experienced greater deterioration in all mental health in the 2-year follow-up (average change: depressive symptoms: β = 0.59, 95% CI [0.26, 0.93]; anxiety symptoms: β = 0.45, 95% CI [0.10, 0.81]; NSSI: β = 0.66, 95% CI [0.31, 1.01]; suicide ideation: β = 0.67, 95% CI [0.38, 0.96]; suicide plan: β = 0.77, 95% CI [0.38, 1.15]; suicide attempt: β = 1.12, 95% CI [0.63, 1.62]). However, children with childhood separation from their parents but reunited with them during the transition to adolescence showed similar even lower changes to counterparts who never experienced parent–child separation (all ps > 0.05). Conclusion These results indicating improvements in supportiveness of the caregiving environment during the transition to adolescence may provide the opportunity to buffer the adverse impact of COVID-19 on mental health. Translating such knowledge to inform intervention and prevention strategies for youths exposed to adversity is a critical goal for the field.