COVID-19 has affected people across the world. The current study examined anxiety and worries during the first UK national lockdown in March 2020. Parents (n = 402) reported on their own anxiety and worries as well as that of their son/daughter with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and typically developing (TD) child (n = 186) at three time points. Although both groups showed increased anxiety across the three time points, levels of anxiety in the SEND group, but not the TD siblings, were predicted by awareness about COVID-19. In addition, worries differed between the groups showing that COVID-19 impacts the wellbeing of those with SEND differently to that of their TD siblings.

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The present study explored the effects of the pandemic on individuals with Down Syndrome (DS; n = 67) compared to other groups with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND; n = 48) and their Typically Developing Siblings (TDS; n = 56). In total, 115 caregivers reported on their own anxiety and worries and of their children. Anxiety levels for individuals with DS appeared to be lower compared to other SEND populations and to TDS. In terms of worries, individuals with DS worried more about social-related worries but worried less about family-related aspects compared to the other groups. In sum, individuals with DS might show less anxiety but still worried more about specific aspects related to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.

Potential competing interests: SC has provided expert consultancy to providers of UK life insurance and the pharmaceutical industry on matters relating to smoking cessation aids. FN has provided consultancy to a medical equipment company to develop a smartphone app promoting effective use of nicotine replacement therapy and receives grants from Cancer Research UK. JB reports receiving grants from Cancer Research UK during the conduct of the study and receiving unrestricted research funding from pharmaceutical companies who manufacture smoking cessation medications to study smoking cessation outside the submitted work. DF received funding from Allen Carr's Easyway Ltd (ISRCN number:ISRCTN23584477). The trial was conducted independently, the protocol and analysis plan were both pre-registered and the research team were contractually free to independently publish the results of the trial regardless of the study outcome. DF has no other conflicts to declare. LD has provided consultancy for the pharmaceutical industry relating to the development of smoking cessation products.