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Impacts of COVID-19 on early childhood mental health

Marissa Marsolek1, Kathy Dowell1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.

Infant Mental Health Journal
|February 20, 2025
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted young children's mental health services. Caregiver-child relationships and externalizing symptoms influenced engagement and attendance, with fewer therapy sessions overall post-pandemic.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Mental Health Services Research

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted mental health services for young children.
  • Limited research exists on the pandemic's impact on mental health service utilization for children under five.
  • Understanding these impacts is crucial for vulnerable populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health symptoms in children aged 0-5.
  • To investigate the influence of the caregiver-child relationship on children's mental health during the pandemic.
  • To assess the pandemic's impact on caregivers' engagement with mental health treatment based on child symptom presentation.

Main Methods:

  • Archival data from a community mental health organization were analyzed.
  • The study included 486 children aged 0-5 years, with data collected from January 2017 to April 2022.
  • Statistical analysis examined the relationship between the pandemic, caregiver-child dynamics, and service utilization.

Main Results:

  • The caregiver-child relationship was a significant factor in children's mental health symptoms both pre- and during the pandemic.
  • Caregiver and child engagement in mental health services increased if the child exhibited externalizing symptoms post-pandemic.
  • Children attended fewer therapy sessions overall after the pandemic began, though those with externalizing symptoms received more services.

Conclusions:

  • The caregiver-child relationship remains a critical factor in young children's mental health, even amidst public health crises.
  • Externalizing symptoms in children were associated with increased engagement for both child and caregiver, but overall attendance decreased.
  • Findings highlight the need for tailored mental health support for young children and their families during and after pandemics.

Keywords:
COVID‐19COVID‐19, 幼儿心理健康, 看护者‐儿童关系, 外化行为Eltern‐Kind‐Beziehungcaregiver‐child relationshipcomportamientos externalizantescomportements externalisantsearly childhood mental healthexternalisierende Verhaltensweisenexternalizing behaviorsfrühkindliche psychische Gesundheitmental health servicesrelación cuidador‐niñorelation enfant‐aidantsalud mental en la temprana niñezsanté mentale des jeunes enfantsالكلمات المفتاحية: الإشراف التأملي، الممارسة التأملية، الزيارة المنزلية، الرعاية والتعليم المبكر، التنفيذ外在化行動幼児期のメンタルヘルス養育者と子どもの関係性

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