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Published on: March 1, 2019
Pediatric home confinement due to COVID-19: Somatic and anxiety spectrum consequences
Salvador I Garcia-Adasme1,2,3, José M Cárdenas-Rebollo4, Ana Jimenez-Perianes5
1Department of Paediatrics, HM Hospitals, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
COVID-19 home confinement significantly impacted children, leading to increased anxiety, behavioral issues, and somatic symptoms. Early detection and intervention by nurses are crucial for managing these effects in the pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Nationwide lockdowns due to COVID-19 disrupted daily life, including schooling.
- Social isolation during the pandemic may have negatively affected children's mental health.
- Understanding the psychological impact on children is crucial for developing support strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effects of COVID-19 home confinement on children.
- To investigate anxiety, behavioral disturbances, and somatic symptoms in pediatric populations.
- To identify risk factors associated with increased psychological distress in children during confinement.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Spain.
- A web-based anonymous questionnaire was administered to 2,292 children.
- Data collection involved parental reports for children under 7 and self-reports (with assistance) for older children using the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale.
Main Results:
- Children over 7, particularly boys, exhibited high anxiety levels.
- Participants with family members affected by COVID-19 or parents involved in the pandemic reported higher anxiety.
- Fear of infection, parental unemployment, and family infections were linked to significant anxiety symptoms and behavioral issues in children.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 home confinement significantly impacted children's mental health, manifesting as anxiety, behavioral problems, and somatic symptoms.
- Nurses are vital in early screening of anxiety symptoms in children post-confinement via telehealth.
- Timely interventions and interdisciplinary management are recommended to address the psychological needs of children affected by the pandemic.
Aims And Objectives:
We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 related home confinement on the paediatric population by focusing on anxiety, behavioural disturbances and somatic symptoms.
Background:
To limit the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, governments have imposed nationwide lockdowns to prevent direct contact; this has affected everyday lives and activities such as attending school classes. Such isolation may have impacted children's anxiety levels.
Design And Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional observational study using a web-based anonymous questionnaire from 22-26 April, 2020, among children (N = 2,292) in Spain. For children below 7 years of age, parents reported the children's behavioural, emotional and somatic symptoms and family environment data on a questionnaire designed by the researchers. Children over 7 years answered the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale either independently or with their parents' assistance.
Results:
Children over 7 years, boys in particular, scored high on the anxiety spectrum. Moreover, participants who knew someone who had suffered from COVID-19 at home or whose parent was directly involved in the pandemic, obtained higher Total Anxiety scores. Significantly high values were found in all aspects of anxiety among those who feared infection or whose parents been unemployed. Of the children below 7 years, 56.3% had four or more anxiety-related symptoms, the most frequent of which were tantrums, emotional changes, restlessness and fear of being alone. The number of symptoms reported was significant when someone in the family home had been infected with COVID-19.
Conclusions:
The COVID-19 home confinement had a significant impact on children, causing anxiety, behavioural problems and somatic manifestations.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
Nurses play a key role in screening children who have experience confinement owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to detect early anxiety symptoms using tele-health. Suitable direct interventions can then be implemented or interdisciplinary manage could be started.
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