Effects of COVID-19 Outbreak on Children’s Mental Health: A Comparative Study with Children Diagnosed and Isolated from Their Parents

Abstract

Objective The COVID-19 outbreak has negatively affected children in many ways. This study aimed to compare the psychological responses of children exposed to different levels of stress during the COVID-19 outbreak.Methods The anxiety levels, negative thoughts, and quality of life of COVID-19-positive children with COVID-19-positive parents (Child+ group, n=17), COVID-19-negative children who are separated from COVID-19-positive parents (Parent+ group, n=59), and a control group (n=64) were compared. The participants completed the Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders (SCARED), Children’s Negative Cognitive Errors Questionnaire (CNCEQ), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).Results The statistical analysis revealed that the Parent+ group recorded higher SCARED and CNCEQ scores and lower PedsQL scores in comparison with the control group. No statistically significant difference was found between the scores of the Child+ and control groups. Furthermore, high CNCEQ scores and low PedsQL scores in the Parent+ group predicted an increase in their SCARED scores.Conclusion Our study indicates that separating children from their parents during the COVID-19 outbreak negatively influences their mental health and increases their anxiety levels.

Psychiatric symptoms in children with COVID-19, mothers` psychological resilience and related factors: pandemic hospital inpatient experiences

“…These results show that children's high anxiety levels are associated with separation from parents rather than COVID-19 positivity. 23 In our study, groups had similar internalizing symptoms' levels. This result may be related to not being separated from their parents in both groups.…”

COVID-19 and mental health disorders in children and adolescents (Review)

“…In contrast, for the few children infected with COVID-19, most are infected because their parents are infected, they may be isolated with their parents. Only when the parents are infected and the child is not, the child is separated from the parents because the parents are isolated ( Kılınçel et al 2021 ). The separation of children from their parents due to isolation is an important factor that affects children psychologically.…”

“…The separation of children from their parents due to isolation is an important factor that affects children psychologically. Research has concluded that children require the closeness of other people to feel safe, especially during stressful events, and children who are separated from their parents experience increased anxiety, which negatively affects their quality of life ( Kılınçel et al 2021 ). A cross-sectional study in Qatar found that in 149 COVID-19-infected children, the rate of separation anxiety (57.9%) was significantly higher than the normal prevalence ( Khan et al 2021 ; Shear et al 2006 ).…”

“…In contrast, staying with parents during a health crisis gives children confidence and reduces their anxiety ( Knutsson et al 2008 ), as the presence of the parents may assist the children with adapting to their environment ( Khan et al 2021 ). During the current outbreak, children separated from their parents infected with COVID-19 experienced greater levels of anxiety and negative thoughts, possibly related to the fear of parental departure ( Kılınçel et al 2021 ). The children's anxiety may thus be the result of both loneliness and the fear of losing a loved one or their own health to the virus.…”

What did COVID-19 Change? The Impact of COVID-19 on Korean Parents’ and Children’s Daily Lives and Stress

“…Few studies have explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's daily lives or psychological health [14,15]. Children have experienced significant disruptions to their daily routines, with daycare and school closures in many countries.…”