Psychosocial Impact of COVID -19 Pandemic on Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i1.196Keywords:
COVID-19, lockdown, children, anxiety, stress, quality of life, mental health, psychosocial impact.Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented lockdowns, significantly disrupting the lives of children. These disruptions have raised concerns about their psychosocial well-being, highlighting the need for comprehensive studies to understand these impacts.
Objective: to evaluate the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on children, specifically focusing on anxiety, stress, and quality of life.
Methods: A two time-points cross-sectional survey was conducted with 220 children aged 6-15 years, divided into two groups: 110 assessed during the pandemic (January 2021 to June 2021) and 110 assessed after the pandemic (June 2023 to December 2023). Data were collected using validated questionnaires, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale (PHQ-9), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the WHO Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire. Salivary cortisol levels were measured as a stress marker.
Results: Among the 220 children, 50.9% of the pandemic group were males and 49.1% were females, with a mean age of 9.14±2.34 years. In the post-pandemic group, 50.0% were males and 50.0% were females, with a mean age of 9.32±2.77 years. Elevated salivary cortisol levels were found in 57.3% of children during the pandemic (mean 776.23±269.96 nmol/L). A significant negative correlation was observed between anxiety levels and quality of life scores (r=-0.452, p<0.001). Children with psychological disorders had significantly higher family sizes (p=0.018) and anxiety scores (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The study underscores the significant psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on children, showing increased anxiety and stress that negatively affect their quality of life. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions to support children during such crises.
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