The Psychological Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic Related Lockdown in Children

Abstract

varying degrees of lockdown due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been enforced in most states since late March, 2020, which has extended for more than four months now. Schools across India have closed and restrictions on public movement is in effect. Most children are forced to stay indoors because of this lockdown, which has significantly disrupted their routine and reduced social contact. This prolonged indoor stay is likely to affect their psychological well-being in many ways. Restriction of movement, inability to indulge in physical outdoor sports activities, reduced social contact with peer group, monotonous daily routine and difficulty in being engaged can have a negative bearing on the child. The childhood psychological reactions to COVID-19 pandemic can be broadly classified into internalizing problems like anxiety, depression, withdrawn state and somatic complaints and externalizing problems like irritable states, aggression, disruptive and rule breaking behavioral responses. An Italian study done among children during COVID lockdown reported an increase in externalizing tendencies like irritability, intolerance to rules, whims and excessive demands [1]. A similar Spanish study showed increase in nervousness, worry, feeling of loneliness, boredom and anger which includes both internalizing and externalizing tendencies [2]. Lockdown also impaired the quality of sleep and sleep stabilization in children [3]. Quarantined Indian children were found to experience greater psychological distress like worry, helplessness and fear [4]. On the other hand, reduction in academic pressure and more time spent with family may also contribute to reduction in stress.

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Dental Caries in Children During COVID-19 Pandemic - Are We Doing Enough?

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The need for pediatric indoor physical training guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic–related lockdown: where do we stand?

“…Schools across the globe suspended physical classes and switched to Internet-based remote learning. Most children were forced to stay indoors because of lockdown, which had considerably disrupted their routine [ 3 ]. Restriction of movement, inability to indulge in physical outdoor sports activities, and reduced social contact with peers could have played a role in reducing the incidence of fractures in pediatric age during lockdown.…”

“…Reduced incidence of fractures directly implies that children indulged in lesser than usual physical activities. Moreover, the monotonous daily routine and difficulty to engage in outdoor physical and sports activities can have a negative bearing on the psychosomatic wellbeing of the child [ 3 ].…”