From Ontario Public Health
Children’s mental health and behaviour have been overall negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health measures. Young children and adolescents were affected differently. Parents of young children reported more behavioural difficulties, hyperactivity, and conduct problems,while adolescents were more likely to have increased anxiety and depressive symptoms,increased suicidal ideation, and increased frequency of alcohol consumption for those reporting any use.
Parental stress was a mediator in the association between exposure to COVID-19 public health measures and negative child outcomes. The level of parents’ perceived stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate or buffer mental health and behaviour problems in children.
Other child outcomes negatively impacted by the pandemic included movement behaviours (decreased physical activity, increased sedentary behaviour and screen time), increased food insecurity, negative educational outcomes, increased injuries occurring at home, and increased reports of child maltreatment.
Health service utilization of tertiary care services (emergency department visits and hospitalizations) decreased substantially during the early months of the pandemic. However, it was reported that illness severity increased, and visits for mental health reasons increased in the later weeks of the pandemic. There may have been some parents delaying care for their children due to fear of acquiring COVID-19 infection in the hospital.
Although this review identified many relevant studies, most were convenience samples. As such, families from diverse ethnicities or racialized communities, who are more likely to experience greater social and health inequities which may be exacerbated during the pandemic, are systematically underrepresented.
Children’s mental health and behaviour have been overall negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health measures. Young children and adolescents were affected differently. Parents of young children reported more behavioural difficulties, hyperactivity, and conduct problems,while adolescents were more likely to have increased anxiety and depressive symptoms,increased suicidal ideation, and increased frequency of alcohol consumption for those reporting any use.
Parental stress was a mediator in the association between exposure to COVID-19 public health measures and negative child outcomes. The level of parents’ perceived stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate or buffer mental health and behaviour problems in children.
Other child outcomes negatively impacted by the pandemic included movement behaviours (decreased physical activity, increased sedentary behaviour and screen time), increased food insecurity, negative educational outcomes, increased injuries occurring at home, and increased reports of child maltreatment.
Health service utilization of tertiary care services (emergency department visits and hospitalizations) decreased substantially during the early months of the pandemic. However, it was reported that illness severity increased, and visits for mental health reasons increased in the later weeks of the pandemic. There may have been some parents delaying care for their children due to fear of acquiring COVID-19 infection in the hospital.
Although this review identified many relevant studies, most were convenience samples. As such, families from diverse ethnicities or racialized communities, who are more likely to experience greater social and health inequities which may be exacerbated during the pandemic, are systematically underrepresented.
