The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on child and adolescent health: A literature review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the main impacts of physical inactivity, increased screen time, and violence against children on the psychological and cognitive development supported by changes in habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A narrative review of the literature with publications from 2012 to 2021 was conducted based on data from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and from the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). The following keywords were used: “Child Behavior”; “Screen time”; “Covid-19”; “Sedentary behavior” e “Domestic Violence”. RESULTS: An intensification of the use of electronic devices, increased rates of child abuse and children’s physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic was observed. CONCLUSION: Social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the aggravation of pre-existing problems in children, such as increased screen time, physical inactivity and violence against children.