Impact of COVID-19 on emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to widespread societal disruption and negative psychological consequences.
• Preschool children are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes, necessitating attention to their emotional and behavioral well-being during the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the pooled prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify potential factors contributing to the variability in reported prevalence rates across studies.
• To assess the pandemic's overall impact on the mental health of young children.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases including Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang.
• Ten studies, involving a total of 38,059 preschool children, met the inclusion criteria.
• A random-effects model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems.

Main Results:

• The pooled prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children during the COVID-19 pandemic was found to be 24.3% (95% CI, 0.15-0.38).
• This prevalence rate is higher than pre-outbreak levels reported in various countries, indicating a detrimental effect of the pandemic.
• Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (I²=99.9%).

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on the mental well-being of preschool children globally.
• Mental health care and recovery interventions are crucial for this vulnerable group during and after the public health crisis.
• Future research should focus on specific emotional and behavioral problems to guide targeted interventions for preschoolers.