Potential effects of “social” distancing measures and school lockdown on child and adolescent mental health

Clemens, Vera; Deschamps, Peter; Fegert, Jörg M.; Anagnostopoulos, Dimitrios; Bailey, Sue; Doyle, Maeve; Eliez, Stéphan; Hansen, Anna Sofie; Hebebrand, Johannes; Hillegers, Manon H. J.; Jacobs, Brian; Karwautz, Andreas; Kiss, Enikő; Kotsis, Konstantinos; Kumperščak, Hojka Gregorič; Pejovic-Milovancevic, Milica; Christensen, Anne Marie Råberg; Raynaud, J.-P.; Westerinen, Hannu; Visnapuu-Bernadt, Piret

doi:10.1007/s00787-020-01549-w

Cited by 170 publications

(185 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, in line with Secer et al [9], the severity correlated with the increased experience of anxiety/depressive symptoms and avoidance behavior suggesting that also in the present study a relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and the experienced severity of the OCD symptoms may be important. Thus, both the direct threat of the infection, and the consequences of social distancing, social isolation and the constant focus on hygiene may affect children and adolescents in general, and maybe more if they have a psychiatric vulnerability [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder

2020

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Background Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a distressing psychiatric disorder. Traumas may trigger or aggravate OCD symptoms. COVID-19 pandemic has coursed a global crisis and has been associated with onset of psychiatric disorders in adults. Little is known about children/adolescents with OCD. The present study aimed to examine how children/adolescents with OCD react towards COVID-19 crisis. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to two separate groups of children/adolescents. One group was a clinical group newly diagnosed at a specialized OCD clinic. All the children/adolescents had a current close contact to a therapist or doctor. The other group was a survey group identified through the Danish OCD Association. Most of these children/adolescents were diagnosed years ago, and their primary treatment was completed. For the clinical group, data from patient files was available. Results In both groups, but most pronounced in the survey group, participants experienced a worsening of their OCD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The aggravation of OCD correlated with the worsening of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and the extent of avoidance behavior. For both groups, OCD aggressive symptoms predicted a significant worsening. Poor baseline insight showed a trend to predict a symptom worsening. The worsening was most pronounced in children with early age of onset and a family history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies examining the effect of COVID-19 in children/adolescents with OCD. The effect was examined in two separate populations strengthening the findings. The study points towards an influence of the OCD phenotype, baseline insight suggesting a continued vulnerability, and a family history of psychiatric disorders. Trial registration The study is approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (1–16–02-147-20) registered 1st of April 2020. Oral and written information was given to parents and patients and written consent from patients over 15 years and parents were received.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder

2020

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“…Specific worries have been expressed regarding families who have already accumulated more vulnerabilities and less resources and capabilities over the course of their lives, for instance due to poverty, divorce, or parents or child psychopathology or somatic diseases (Masten & Motti-Stefanidi, 2020). COVID-19 may cause significant stress and developmental risk for them, especially now that the youth care system seems hardly able be able to provide sufficient professional support (Clemens et al, 2020). Hence a societal investment in alternative manners to teach adolescents how to cope with stress and negative emotions, without requiring face-to-face contact or home visits, such as eHealth or online family support, is therefore needed and opportune.…”

Section: Practical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parenting Adolescents in Times of a Pandemic: Changes in Relationship Quality, Autonomy Support, and Parental Control?

Bülow¹,

Keijsers²,

Boele³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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This multi-informant study examined effects of COVID-19 on parent-adolescent relationships in the spring of 2020. Four bi-weekly measurements before and four bi-weekly measurements during the lockdown were collected among Dutch adolescents (N = 179, Mage = 14.26 years, 69% girls) and their parents (N = 144, Mage = 47.01 years, 81% female; educational level 12% low, 33% medium, 55% high). Adolescents and parents reported on parental support, parent-adolescent conflict, autonomy support, psychological control, and behavioral control. Additionally, they reported how their daily routines had changed during the lockdown. Parents and adolescents spent more time together during lockdown (before M = 8.6h, during M = 12.7h) but less time with friends (before M = 8.1h, during M = 2.1h), and reported on average 13 corona-related rules. Pre-registered piece-wise growth models confirmed that autonomy support decreased immediately after the lockdown, but no mean-level changes were observed in the other relationship dimensions. During the first two months of the lockdown, parents reported gradual increases in autonomy support and decreases in behavioral control. Moreover, significant differences between families were found in sudden and more gradual relationship changes, which correlated strongly with pre-lockdown characteristics of the relationship, and in some models with adolescent oppositional defiance and legitimacy beliefs. In sum, findings suggest resilience in most families, but also heterogeneity. Some families were negatively affected (e.g., more conflicts and psychological control) and others were positively affected (e.g., more warmth, less conflicts). A tailored approach is therefore needed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on family functioning.

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“…The prevalence of mental health difficulties during COVID-19 has increased [6], especially among vulnerable groups, including children [2,4]. Indeed, the most considerable social and economic burden of COVID-19 will likely fall to the youngest members of society, leaving a generation vulnerable to higher rates of mental health difficulties [1]. While the manifestation and medical symptoms of COVID-19 have been mild in children, the disruption to their daily lives has been unprecedented, from extended school closures, shut-down of extra-curricular activities and supports, and isolation from friends and exposure to increased family stress and violence.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence suggests children are being left behind in COVID-19 mental health research

Racine

Korczak

Madigan

2020

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

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Potential effects of “social” distancing measures and school lockdown on child and adolescent mental health

Cited by 170 publications

References 8 publications

The immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder

The immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder

Parenting Adolescents in Times of a Pandemic: Changes in Relationship Quality, Autonomy Support, and Parental Control?

Evidence suggests children are being left behind in COVID-19 mental health research

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