Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background and aims: The outbreak of COVID-19 led to a significant psychological impact on individuals, particularly those belonging to vulnerable groups. This study aimed to synthesize literature on the psychological impact of COVID-19 among children and adolescents. Methods: Electronic search engines were used to identify studies till March 2021 that reported symptoms of psychological origin in children and adolescents. Information was extracted using a predefined template, and qualitative analysis was conducted using STROBE. Results: One hundred and two relevant papers were identified. Most of the studies were conducted online or telephonically. The study designs were primarily single group cross-sectional, though a few prospective/retrospective designs were also identified. Studies assessing emotional distress showed variable levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the study population, with greater severity of anxiety symptoms among females and older adolescents. Reduced physical activity; delayed sleep time; increased sleep duration, screen time, internet use, and sedentary habits, poor quality of life were other notable findings, often correlating with anxiety/depression. Efforts to address bias, discussion on generalizability of their results, and sample size calculation were not reported in most studies. Conclusion: Psychological impact on children/adolescents is significant, either due to the fear of the illness or social isolation related to COVID-19. One may focus on improving sleep habits and physical activity and regulating internet use for maintaining psychological well-being.

Mental Health in Children in the Context of COVID-19: Focus on Discharged Children

“…Among the broader population, social distancing measures and school closures can also impact children's mental health. In a previous review, anxiety and depression were reported as the most prevalent psychological symptoms in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 11 ). For example, a study in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, reported that depressive and anxiety symptoms affected 22.6 and 18.9% of primary students, respectively ( 12 ).…”

An international study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics of functional seizures

“…Otherwise, the clinical and semiological characteristics of patients with FS were similar between patients who were diagnosed before the pandemic compared with those who received the diagnosis during the pandemic. Therefore, we can conclude that while this deadly outbreak has caused significant stress for everyone [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , it has not affected the characteristics of FS significantly.…”

“…This virus is highly contagious and has a high potential for person to person transmission. This deadly outbreak has caused more than five million deaths, massive job losses, various psychiatric problems, and increasing numbers of relationship difficulties worldwide (all of which may be considered as potential precipitating factors for FS) [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] . Therefore, it is plausible to consider this pandemic as a potentially significant factor that may affect the characteristics of FS.…”

Psychological Distress and Adolescents’ Cyberbullying under Floods and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Parent–Child Relationships and Negotiable Fate as Moderators

“…Several studies have revealed that a single type of natural disaster, or the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause psychological distress in adolescents, such as depression, anxiety, and stress [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The prevalence of psychological distress among adolescents ranges from 10% to 30% in Western and Eastern societies [ 10 ]. In addition to mental health, limited studies have explored the effects of psychological distress on adolescents’ cyber problem behaviors, such as cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”