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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
07:01
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
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Persistence of Lockdown Consequences on Children: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study.
Marina Picca1, Paola Manzoni1, Antonio Corsello2
1SICuPP-Lombardia: Italian Primary Care Paediatrics Society-Lombardy, 20126 Milan, Italy.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 23, 2022
Summary
The COVID-19 lockdown negatively impacted children's sleep and mood, with effects persisting into 2021. While family ties initially helped, their protective effect diminished over time, highlighting the long-term psychological consequences for children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Pandemic Mental Health
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread lockdowns, significantly impacting children's psychological well-being.
- Understanding the longitudinal effects of these lockdowns on child development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the psychological effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on children aged 1-10 years between 2020 and 2021.
- To assess changes in sleep, mood, irritability, attention, and digital device use.
Main Methods:
- Two cross-sectional surveys administered to parents of children aged 1-10 years in 2020 (n=3392) and 2021 (n=3203).
- Data collected on sleep changes, irritability, attention disturbances, distance learning, and number of siblings.
- Children categorized into pre-scholar (1-5 years) and older groups for analysis.
Main Results:
- Lockdown was associated with increased sleep disturbances in 2020, persisting into 2021.
- High prevalence of mood changes remained consistent in 2020 and 2021.
- Increased irritability and rage observed in 2021 compared to 2020; reduced digital device use in 2021.
- Mitigating effect of strengthened family ties observed in 2020 diminished by 2021.
Conclusions:
- Negative psychological impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on children persisted one year later.
- Long-term psychological effects on children who experienced early-life pandemic exposure require further investigation.
- Identification of intervention practices to support families is essential.
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