Children’s representations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and associated pandemic experiences post-infection in China

Abstract

Objective: This study examined children’s representations of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as well as their pandemic experiences against the backdrop of the world having transitioned to normalcy. Design: Mixed-methods approach encompassing both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Setting: Two middle schools in Hefei city in mid-eastern China. Method: Data were collected using a qualitative task which elicited children’s drawings, commentaries, answers to questions related to their pandemic experiences, followed by small-group interviews. Content analysis and emergent coding techniques were employed to analyse the data, the extracted themes of which were then quantified to reveal their incidence and distribution. Results: Analysis of the multimodal data set revealed children not only depicted viral morphology but also evoked emotions. The pandemic had brought about changes in children’s lives, marked by a shift towards more academic activities, rest and relaxation and screen time. These changes also raised psychological, physical and social development concerns warranting mitigation. Multifaceted sources were identified as contributing to children’s unhappiness, including restricted social interactions, educational challenges, emotional and psychological issues. Notably, children reported enhanced pre- to post-pandemic hygiene and sanitisation practices. Unsubstantiated beliefs relating to processes of recovery suggest the need for clearer communication in this regard. Conclusion: The study highlights the necessity for health education to support children in physical and psychological coping during a pandemic and build their resilience against future epidemics. Actively listening to children’s account of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and their pandemic experiences paves the way for making health education initiatives more relatable and attuned to their needs.