Child and caregiver mental health during 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: findings from national repeated cross-sectional surveys

Abstract

There are urgent calls for research into the mental health consequences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe caregiver and child mental health over 12 months using Australia's only nationally representative, repeated cross-sectional survey of caregivers with children (0-17 years). N=2020 caregivers in June 2020, N=1434 in September 2020, and N=2508 in July 2021 provided data. Caregivers rated their mental health (Kessler-6), and impacts of the pandemic on their own and their children's mental health. Data were weighted using national distribution of age, gender, number of children, state/territory and neighbourhood-level disadvantage. Mental health measures worsened over time. There was an unequal distribution of impacts based on caregiver gender, child age and family socioeconomic characteristics. Negative impacts were more common with current or cumulative lockdown. The indirect impacts of COVID-19 are real and concerning. Mental health must be central to the immediate and ongoing pandemic responses for families and children.

How child inclusive were Australia's responses to COVID‐19?

“…Olive et al ( 2022 ) found children experiencing COVID‐related declines in physical activity and increased recreational screen time were experiencing greater sleep disruption, elevated anxiety and irritability symptoms. The mental health of parents and carers, particularly those experiencing socioeconomic adversity, also declined (see Price et al, 2022 ). In this context, mental health services that are equipped to respond to children are essential.…”

“…Important surveys were adopted or adapted during 2020 to assess children's mental health and well‐being (Price et al, 2022 ; Westrupp et al, 2020 ) and to better understand the impacts of the pandemic on mental health. Significantly, however, survey respondents were parents and carers, rather than children.…”