Interviewing children: the impact of the COVID-19 quarantine on children's perceived psychological distress and

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G Segre1, R Campi1, F Scarpellini1

  • 1Laboratory for Mother and Child Health, Department of Public Health, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milan, Italy.

BMC Pediatrics
|May 14, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 quarantine significantly impacted Italian children's mental health, causing widespread anxiety and mood symptoms. Many students struggled with home learning, altered diets, and disrupted sleep patterns during the lockdown.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread public health measures, including school closures and social distancing.
  • Limited research has explored the psychological effects of these containment strategies on children's mental well-being.
  • Italian primary and middle school students experienced significant routine changes due to the COVID-19 quarantine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate psychological distress, specifically anxiety and mood symptoms, in Italian children during the COVID-19 quarantine.
  • To assess perceived changes in daily routines among primary and middle school students under lockdown conditions.

Main Methods:

  • An interview-based study was conducted with 82 children and adolescents (aged 6-14) and their parents in Milan, Italy.
  • Data collection occurred between May 18 and June 7, 2020, during the COVID-19 quarantine period.
  • The study focused on psychological distress, dietary habits, sleep patterns, and home learning adjustments.

Main Results:

  • 78% of children reported anxiety symptoms, and 43.9% experienced significant mood symptoms.
  • Nearly 30% of students found it difficult to adapt to home learning.
  • Lockdown measures led to changes in dietary habits for 36% and sleep disturbances for 28% of participants.

Conclusions:

  • Children are demonstrably affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and associated quarantine measures.
  • The study highlights difficulties children face in adapting to altered routines and the psychological distress experienced.
  • Long-term follow-up is recommended to understand the lasting developmental impacts of this stress exposure.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19 quarantineChildrenPsychological distress

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