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COVID-19 lockdown in Spain: Psychological impact is greatest on younger and vulnerable children

Josep Matalí-Costa1,2, Ester Camprodon-Rosanas1,2

  • 1Research Group in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
|December 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The 2020 Spanish lockdown impacted children's mental health, with smaller homes increasing distress risk. Older children generally fared better psychologically, but younger children showed poorer emotional functioning.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated unprecedented home confinement measures in Spain in 2020.
  • Understanding the psychological and social effects of this lockdown on children and adolescents is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the psychological and social impact of the 2020 Spanish lockdown on children and adolescents.
  • To identify risk factors and protective factors influencing mental health during home confinement.
  • To examine family strategies employed during the lockdown period.

Main Methods:

  • An online questionnaire was administered to 850 parents of children and adolescents aged 4–18.
  • Data collection occurred between April 24th and May 8th, 2020.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between living conditions, age, and psychological outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Living in homes smaller than 80 m² was significantly associated with an increased risk of emotional or behavioral distress (OR = 2.54, p = 0.034).
  • Increased age predicted better psychological functioning during lockdown (coefficient = 0.25, p = 0.004).
  • Conversely, older age also correlated with higher scores on psychological symptom scales (coefficient = 0.02, p = 0.005), indicating a complex relationship.

Conclusions:

  • Younger children exhibited poorer behavioral and emotional functioning and more distress symptoms compared to adolescents during lockdown.
  • Home size is a significant risk factor for clinical symptoms of distress.
  • Findings underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions and preventative strategies for future confinement scenarios.

Keywords:
COVID-19adolescentschildrenmental healthpandemicpsychological impactpsychosocialquarantine

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