Social and environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to review the literature, summarizing the existing evidence on the effects of the pandemic on children, adolescents and parents, with an emphasis on the psychological, emotional, and sleep quality consequences. Source of data Empirical studies identified in the following databases: MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science, and preprint servers. Synthesis of data The findings point to a wide range of consequences for children and adolescents resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which mainly includes an increase in depressive mood symptoms. There is also an increase in anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation, as well as potential delays in language and motor development resulting from deprivation of social interaction and the closing of schools. These effects are more severe due to previous neuropsychiatric conditions. For parents, there is an increase in anxiety, depressive and post-traumatic symptoms, which are more accentuated in those who suffered socioeconomic damage due to the pandemic. There was an important increase in situations of violence towards children by parents and caregivers during the pandemic. Also, changes in routine and fear of the pandemic have negatively impacted sleep quality, globally. Conclusions It is noteworthy that most studies published to date used a cross-sectional design and applied online screening questionnaires. The few studies with a longitudinal design suggest that these changes may have been transitory and more prevalent at the beginning of the pandemic.

The Analysis of the Nutritional Status and Dietary Habits among Children Aged 6–10 Years Old Attending Primary Schools in Poland

“…One of the newest articles also emphasizes the emotional and physiological implications of COVID-19 pandemic among children. The authors also review disturbances in sleep routines in the pandemic period [ 33 ].…”

Stay at Home Order—Psychological Stress in Children, Adolescents, and Parents during COVID-19 Quarantine—Data of the CoCo-Fakt Cohort Study, Cologne

“…Most existing studies have examined the consequences of nationally implemented contact-reducing measures, isolation measures and lockdowns [13][14][15]. However, individual, legally mandated quarantines implemented in previous pandemics have been found to cause an extreme psychological burden [16].…”

Slovak parents’ mental health and socioeconomic changes during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Therefore, it is likely that the economic changes during the course of the pandemic have affected mental health, especially among parents. Higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, parental burnout, and worsened family relationships have been mainly observed in parents who have suffered socio-economic hardship, low-income families and families that have experienced multiple hardships or economic losses (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). In addition, the deterioration of mental health has been more notable in mothers as their worklife balance has been particularly affected by the anti-pandemic measures (26)(27)(28).…”