Stressful Life Events in Children Aged 3 to 15 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Class Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have reported an increase in psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of stressful life events on Spanish children and adolescents using a person-oriented statistical approach and the relationships between the profiles and emotional and behavioral symptoms have not yet been examined. The present study aims to identify profiles of Spanish children and adolescents, considering life-threatening stressful events during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Participants were 252 parents of children aged 3 to 15 years old who completed an online structured questionnaire that collected information about stressful life events related to the pandemic and its impact on their children's welfare. RESULTS: Through Latent Class Analysis (LCA), four profiles of children and adolescents were found according to the stressful events experienced: "COVID infection, social confinement", "economic loss", "reduced social contact" and "parental stress", with no significant age or gender differences. Reduction in social contact was the most prevalent stressor. Comparisons of psychological symptoms across latent classes were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings increase our understanding of how stressful life events during the COVID-19 situation impacted young people's psychological welfare and highlight the need to promote strategies to prevent emotional problems during a pandemic considering the identified profiles.

Stressful Life Events in Children Aged 3 to 15 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Class Analysis / Eventos Vitales Estresantes en Niños de 3 a 15 Años Durante la Pandemia deCOVID-19: Un Análisis de Clases Latentes

Background: Although several studies have reported an increase in psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of stressful life events on Spanish children and adolescents using a person-oriented statistical approach and the relationships between the profiles and emotional and behavioral symptoms have not yet been examined. The present study aims to identify profiles of Spanish children and adolescents, considering life-threatening stressful events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Participants were 252 parents of children aged 3 to 15 years old who completed an online structured questionnaire that collected information about stressful life events related to the pandemic and its impact on their children’s welfare. Results: Through Latent Class Analysis (LCA), four profiles of children and adolescents were found according to the stressful events experienced: “COVID infection, social confinement,” “economic loss,” “reduced social contact“ and “parental stress,” with no significant age or gender differences. Reduction in social contact was the most prevalent stressor. Comparisons of psychological symptoms across latent classes were analyzed. Conclusions: The findings increase our understanding of how stressful life events during the COVID-19 situation impacted young people’s psychological welfare and highlight the need to promote strategies to prevent emotional problems during a pandemic considering the identified profiles.(AU)

Antecedentes: Aunque diversos estudios han informado sobre el aumento de problemas psicológicos durante la pandemia de COVID-19, hasta el momento no se ha examinado el impacto de los eventos vitales estresantes en niños y adolescentes mediante un enfoque estadístico orientado a la persona, y la relación entre los perfiles y los síntomas emocionales y conductuales. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo determinar perfiles identificativos de niños y adolescentes españoles, ante eventos estresantes de riesgo durante la pandemia. Método: Participaron 252 padres de niños de 3 a 15 años, quienes completaron un cuestionario estructurado online que recopiló información sobre eventos estresantes relacionados con la pandemia y sobre su impacto en el bienestar de sus hijos. Resultados: Mediante Análisis de Clases Latentes (LCA), se encontraron cuatro perfiles, según los eventos estresantes experimentados: “Infección por COVID, encierro social,” “pérdida económica,” “contacto social reducido” y “estrés de los padres,” sin diferencias significativas en las variables edad y género. La reducción del contacto social fue el estresor más prevalente. Se analizaron las comparaciones de síntomas psicológicos entre clases latentes. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos resaltan la necesidad de promover estrategias para prevenir problemas emocionales durante la pandemia.(AU)

Emotional Problems in Spanish Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review / Los problemas emocionales de los niños y adolescentes españoles durante la pandemia del COVID-19: una revisión sistemática

The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected the mental health of children and adolescents. In Spain, numerous studies have been carried out about the emotional impact on this population. The objective of this paper is to examine, through a systematic review, the most immediate psychological effects of the pandemic on Spanish children and adolescents and the related variables. A search was conducted, obtaining 356 articles of which 27 met the inclusion criteria. The studies reviewed address emotional problems, emotion-regulation problems, anxiety, depression, and stress in Spanish children and adolescents. An increase in emotional problems during confinement was observed. Differences were found in emotional problems, being generally more common in girls and older children and adolescents. Related variables of a family nature and referred to the pandemic, coping styles, and other psychological problems were examined. These results are relevant to design interventions that can prevent the impact of other similar situations.

La pandemia del COVID-19 ha afectado de forma particular a la salud mental infanto-juvenil. En España se han llevado a cabo numerosos estudios acerca de las repercusiones emocionales en esta población. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar, mediante una revisión sistemática, los efectos psicológicos más inmediatos de la pandemia en niños y adolescentes españoles y las variables relacionadas. Se realizó una búsqueda, obteniéndose 356 artículos de los que 27 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Los estudios revisados abordan problemas emocionales, de regulación emocional, ansiedad, depresión y estrés en niños y adolescentes españoles. Se encontraron diferencias en estos problemas emocionales, siendo generalmente más comunes en chicas y en niños mayores y adolescentes. Se revisaron variables relacionadas de carácter familiar, relativas a la pandemia, estilos de afrontamiento y otros problemas psicológicos. Estos resultados son relevantes para el diseño de intervenciones que puedan prevenir la repercusión de otras situaciones similares.