Predictor factors affecting emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged (6–12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives The prolonged outbreak of COVID-19 has caused psychological problems in the community, especially in children. Given that limited studies have been conducted on this vulnerable group in Iran, we conducted this study to determine the predictor factors affecting emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged (6–12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study on 322 mothers of elementary school-aged children (6–12 years) from April 21 to June 21, 2021, in Karaj, Alborz, Iran. Sociodemographic checklist, socioeconomic status scale (SES), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and the Rutter Children's Behavior Questionnaire (RCBQ) were used to evaluate the children's behavioral symptoms, the mental health of their mothers, and sociodemographic factors. Results In total, 17.7% of children (male = 27.0%, female = 11.7%) had behavioral problems. Results showed income (p-value = 0.007, 95%CI (-3.85- -0.607)), and physical activity of the child (p-value = 0.026, 95%CI (-1.03- -0.067)), were indirectly associated with children's behavioral symptoms. Having underlying disease (p-value = 0.00, 95%CI (1.712–5.949)), breastfeeding (p-value = 0.027, 95%CI (0.335–5.61)), corona-related anxiety (p-value = 0.00, 95%CI (0.158–0.318)), and DASS score (p-value = 0.00, 95%CI (0.149–0.334)) in the mothers, as well as male gender (p-value = 0.003, 95%CI (0.724–3.471)) were directly associated with children's behavioral symptoms. The most factors involved in the behavioral symptom score of children were corona-related anxiety (β = .298), DASS (β = 0.273), underlying disease of mothers (β = 0.163), income (β = -0.154), child's gender (β = 0.142) and physical activity (β = -0.101), and breastfeeding (β = 0.099) respectively. Conclusion Study findings showed that some factors affect the emotional and behavioral problems of school-aged (6–12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic. These data may help future researchers and policymakers with early intervention.