The Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 on PK–12 Students: A Systematic Review of Emerging Literature

Abstract

The mental health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on PK–12 youth is likely an urgent and enduring concern, yet research on this topic is still emerging. To synthesize current knowledge, the researchers conducted a systematic review of empirical studies exploring the mental health impacts of COVID-19. Five themes emerged across 104 included studies: (a) the pandemic proved widely disruptive to PK–12 youth; (b) there was a clear connection between the mental health of caregivers (e.g., parents) and children; (c) the pandemic broadly increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in PK–12 youth; (d) students were particularly affected on the basis of age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and previous mental health or disability diagnosis; and (e) youth demonstrated negative and positive coping strategies and even saw some positive mental health outcomes during the pandemic. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

When a school is more than just a school: Improving school‐based health in the wake of COVID‐19

“…Finally, not only is there evidence that care provided by SBHCs achieves high levels of satisfaction from students (Charette et al, 2019 ; O'Leary et al, 2014 ; Silberberg & Cantor, 2008 ; Zarate et al, 2020 ), but that it is also highly cost‐effective (Fisher et al, 2019 ) and offers large social benefits (Ran et al, 2016 ). Given this body of knowledge, SBHCs may be particularly helpful during the ongoing pandemic as well as during the long‐term recovery (Anderson et al, 2020 ; Hoffman & Miller, 2020 ; Naff et al, 2020 ).…”

Parents' perceptions of children's emotional well‐being during spring 2020 COVID‐19 restrictions: A qualitative study with parents of young children in England

“…Lee et al (2021) found that parental social isolation and recent employment loss were positively associated with child maltreatment risk during the early stages of the pandemic among a US sample of parents. A systematic review has also highlighted that the mental health of caregivers was associated with children's mental health outcomes (Naff, Williams, Furman-Darby, & Yeung, 2022).…”

The Impact of COVID-19 and Trauma on Student Behavior and Considerations for Strategies for Educator to Support Students

“…provide such essential services as breakfasts and lunches, medical care, and behavioral health supports to students and families who depended on receiving them through school. The lack of other school-based experiences, such as physical activity, interpersonal connections, and social, emotional, and behavioral learning, did not cause the same immediate distress, but the potential ramifications of their absence are beginning to appear as anxiety and other mental and behavioral health challenges have increased among students (Hafstad, Augusti, 2021;Naff et al, 2022;Viner et al, 2022). COVID-19 has led to stress and feelings of grief and loss in youth and families who worry about the health of loved ones, job security and the economy, and who miss their established routines and friends.…”

“…With students spending most of their day in schools and interacting with teachers and school staff, schools are at the forefront of the social, emotional, and behavioral consequences of the last two years on our children and youth. There are reports that behavior challenges have increased, social cues are not as understood, and the ability to share and interact with peers has decreased (Blad, 2022;Naff et al, 2022;Sun et al, 2022). There are also reports of increases in fighting, emotionally hurtful interactions, and absenteeism (Belsha, 2021).…”

“…There are also reports of increases in fighting, emotionally hurtful interactions, and absenteeism (Belsha, 2021). In a recent review of the emerging literature on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of pre-kindergarten -grade 12 students, Naff et al (2022) identified broad repercussions to mental health, including increases in anxiety, depression, loneliness, and violent behavior such as hitting, throwing objects, and acting out. They also found that COVID-19 was very unsettling for everyday activities and routines, including diet, exercise, sleep, and technology use.…”