Risk Factors and Mental Health Promotion Strategies in Children During COVID-19

Guido, Cristiana Alessia; Amedeo, Ilaria; Avenoso, Federica; Bruni, Jacopo; Zicari, Anna Maria; Loffredo, Lorenzo; Spalice, Alberto

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.580720

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in children and adolescents without previous problems show the onset of anxiety-depressive symptoms, stress, and somatic symptoms (body pain, breathing difficulties) (16)(17)(18)(19); neurophysiological alterations such as dysregulation in sleep/wake rhythms and feeding, the presence of fatigue and increased inattention and irritability; and increased attachment to caregivers with demands for reassurance (20)(21)(22)(23). In the clinical population, a significant increase in the frequency of contamination obsessions and cleaning/washing compulsions was found in samples of children with a primary diagnosis of OCD ( 24) while, patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome developed new repeated cough tics also evident in public during the pandemic (25).…”

Section: Psychological Condition In Children and Adolescents During The Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic During the Lockdown on Children With the Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS/PANS): The Importance of Environmental Factors on Clinical Conditions

et al. 2021

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Introduction: In March 2020, SARS-CoV-2 declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Restrictive isolation measures have also brought psychological distress to the pediatric population. Building on the syndrome's characteristics, the present study explored the impact of lockdown on the clinical course of young people with PANDAS/PANS. The initial hypothesis considered both the reduced exposure to viral agents and the strategies of the parents and other containment actions as protective factors against the worsening of symptoms.Methods: One hundred and eight children, adolescents, and young adults were recruited according to the multicenter PANDAS/PANS research program. Parents participated in a web-based survey. Results: contrary to our hypothesis, the study results show an increase in symptoms during the block in 71% of the sample. Psychometric analyzes allowed us to exclude a relationship between the main symptoms of PANDAS and the increase in symptoms or the presence of symptoms before the block and their increase over time. The increase in symptoms is best explained by the presence of sleep disturbances and emotional lability. The exacerbation also appears to be linked to the onset of new symptoms in children and adolescents with depressed moods and eating problems. Furthermore, irritability and oppositionality are significant predictors of acute exacerbation. Equally statistically significant is the factor linked to the effects of pandemic stress, such as the fear of contracting the virus. No significant associations for symptom reduction have been identified between parental strategies or other parent-initiated actions, but the study demonstrates that caregiver perceived efficacy on the strategies used can reduce the risk of exacerbation.Conclusion: This preliminary study highlights the importance of studying the causes of increased symptoms in children with PANDAS/PANS. Life events can exacerbate the clinical condition or generate new symptoms in young patients. In particular, environmental, family, and social changes in the course of clinical symptoms in PANDAS/PANS patients should be investigated. It highlights the importance of emotional and behavioral management, which can be improved by enhancing coping strategies in young people with PANDAS/PANS and their caregivers through a combination treatment in which CBT and PMT are included, in line with guidelines.Limits: An experimental proxy-report questionnaire not yet standardized and validated on the PANS/PANDAS pediatric clinical sample was used for the exploratory study. There is also a small sample size (N = 108) and the absence of a control group (pre-lockdown or children without PANDAS/PANS). It would be interesting to evaluate the exact long-term dimensions to see the course of symptoms after covid and conduct a new study focusing on the impact of stressful events on the clinical course of the syndrome.

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Section: Psychological Condition In Children and Adolescents During The Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Section II (Symptoms): descriptive analyzes and calculates the frequencies of all the items contained in questions n. 1-16. Comparison between symptoms presents during lockdown (Q.12 and 13) with their clinical course (Q. [14][15][16].…”

Section: Materials Description Of the Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic During the Lockdown on Children With the Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS/PANS): The Importance of Environmental Factors on Clinical Conditions

et al. 2021

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“…Indirect positive effects on GD symptoms were expected as a result of parental knowledge of their offspring's life and parental monitoring, while a negative indirect effect was predicted as a result of time spent by parents on VGs. In testing the model, we controlled for possible effects of gender and age, given the association between the young person's age and parental knowledge of the offspring [57], the significant role of gender with respect to parental monitoring [29,58], time spent on gaming and GD symptoms in children and adolescents [21,42,43], and, also, the relationship between the offspring's age and parental monitoring [42,59], as well as time spent by juveniles on gaming [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, school closure and event cancellations limited their social interactions during this pandemic. Consequently, the risk for the development of GD symptoms may have increased because of the enhanced opportunity to play VGs and decreased access to alternative social activities [ 43 , 44 ]. Moreover, in this specific and special context of domestic quarantine, the risk or protective role of parents with respect to their offspring’s video gaming behavior can also be more precisely analyzed, as a large proportion of the adult population either stopped working, reduced their working hours, or worked from home due to the COVID-19 [ 45 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gaming among Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Role of Parents in Time Spent on Video Games and Gaming Disorder Symptoms

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et al. 2021

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It is mainly children and adolescents who are involved in video gaming. The lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have further increased their use of video games and, consequently, the risk of gaming disorder (GD) symptoms. However, currently, we do not have exhaustive knowledge of this issue. To fill this gap, the current study aims to analyze video gaming habits in children and adolescents during the lockdown, starting in March 2020 in Italy, the first European country affected by the pandemic. Specifically, we aim to understand how variables related to parents—for instance, knowledge of their offspring’s life, the monitoring of their video gaming habits, and parental use of video games—are related to their offspring’s time spent on video games and GD symptoms. A web-based survey involving parents (n = 554, 79% mothers, mean age = 45.39) of 554 children and adolescents (73% males, mean age = 11.11) was utilized. The results showed that they were involved in video games, particularly boys and adolescents, with high rates of GD symptoms. The parents also spent a considerable amount of time playing video games. A path model that explained the mechanisms through which parental variables were related to their offspring’s time spent on video games and GD symptoms, controlling for gender and age, was verified. Overall, the findings indicate the importance of educating parents to behave effectively with respect to video games and monitor their offspring’s video gaming habits.

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“…Finally, to reduce children's excessive access to pandemic information by controlling their online time, parents should also keep a positive and optimistic attitude to avoid negative emotions affecting their children. Additionally, it is important to consider post-pandemic surveillance of mental disorders among children and adolescents (38). Furthermore, children and adolescents should stay physically active and engage in regular exercise to avoid the risk of physical and mental ill-health (38)(39)(40)(41)(42).…”

Section: Children and Adolescentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Potential Solutions in Different Members in an Ordinary Family Unit

et al. 2022

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Risk Factors and Mental Health Promotion Strategies in Children During COVID-19

Cited by 12 publications

References 4 publications

The Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic During the Lockdown on Children With the Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS/PANS): The Importance of Environmental Factors on Clinical Conditions

The Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic During the Lockdown on Children With the Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS/PANS): The Importance of Environmental Factors on Clinical Conditions

Gaming among Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Role of Parents in Time Spent on Video Games and Gaming Disorder Symptoms

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Potential Solutions in Different Members in an Ordinary Family Unit

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