Psychological Symptom Progression in School-Aged Children After COVID-19 Home Confinement: A Longitudinal Study.
Front Psychiatry
; 13: 809107, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1818021
ABSTRACT
Background:
The long-term mental health effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children are rarely reported. We aimed to investigate the progression of depressive and anxiety symptoms among a cohort of children in the initial epicenter of COVID-19 in China.Methods:
Two waves of surveys were conducted in the same two primary schools in Wuhan and Huangshi, Hubei province Wave 1 from 28 February to 5 March, 2020 (children had been confined to home for 30-40 days) and Wave 2 from 27 November to 9 December, 2020 (schools had reopened for nearly 3 months). Depressive and anxiety symptoms were estimated using the Children's Depression Inventory - Short Form (CDI-S) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), respectively. ΔCDI-S and ΔSCARED scores between Wave 2 and Wave 1 were calculated and further categorized into tertiles. Multivariable linear regression and multinomial logistic regression models were then applied.Results:
A total of 1,224 children completed both surveys. The prevalence of mental health outcomes at Wave 2 increased significantly compared to Wave 1, specifically depressive symptoms (age-standardized prevalence rates 37.5 vs. 21.8%) and anxiety symptoms (age-standardized prevalence rates 24.0 vs. 19.6%). Higher ΔSCARED scores were observed in females and children in Wuhan, and children with experience of neglect had higher ΔCDI-S (ß = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.67-1.58) and ΔSCARED (ß = 6.46; 95% CI = 4.73-8.19) scores compared with those without experience of neglect. When the Δ scores were further categorized into tertiles, similar results were found.Conclusions:
The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms after schools resumed was increased compared with that during the home quarantine period, even though the COVID-19 pandemic was under control. Females and children in Wuhan, and also children with experience of neglect were at increased risk of mental health disorders.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Language:
English
Journal:
Front Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Fpsyt.2022.809107
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