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Changes in the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Associated Factors and Life Conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Rosa Bosch

    (SJD MIND Schools Program, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
    Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
    Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Mireia Pagerols

    (SJD MIND Schools Program, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Raquel Prat

    (SJD MIND Schools Program, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
    Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CEES), University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain)

  • Gemma Español-Martín

    (Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
    Servei de Psiquiatria, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
    Grup de Psiquiatria, Salut Mental i Addiccions, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, 08035 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Cristina Rivas

    (SJD MIND Schools Program, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Montserrat Dolz

    (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Josep Maria Haro

    (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Research and Developmental Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain)

  • Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga

    (Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
    Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Servei de Psiquiatria, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
    Grup de Psiquiatria, Salut Mental i Addiccions, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, 08035 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marta Ribasés

    (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Servei de Psiquiatria, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
    Grup de Psiquiatria, Salut Mental i Addiccions, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
    Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Miquel Casas

    (SJD MIND Schools Program, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
    Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

Abstract

This study investigated the psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among youth by analyzing their emotional/behavioral problems before and during the long-lasting lockdown in Spain. For that purpose, 699 parents with children aged 6–17 and 552 adolescents aged 12–17, who completed the parent and adolescent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at the beginning of 2019, responded to a survey from 26 May to 15 June 2020 that assessed psychological well-being and life conditions during quarantine (i.e., sociodemographic characteristics, situation before the lockdown, physical environment and accompaniment during the lockdown, COVID-related variables). According to both parent- and self-reports, children and youth experienced a significant worsening in emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer problems, and total difficulties subscales. Findings also suggested that impairment was mainly associated with variables related to the child’s situation prior to home quarantine, the quality and quantity of the child’s social networks during the lockdown, the daily routines the child followed, the concerns the child had about health, and the presence of economic and learning problems caused by the COVID-19. Thus, the present investigation emphasizes the need for carefully monitoring the mental health of younger people, provides guidance for the development of interventions that mitigate some of the psychological difficulties faced in a situation of confinement, and highlights the importance of paying special attention to high-risk groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa Bosch & Mireia Pagerols & Raquel Prat & Gemma Español-Martín & Cristina Rivas & Montserrat Dolz & Josep Maria Haro & Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga & Marta Ribasés & Miquel Casas, 2022. "Changes in the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Associated Factors and Life Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4120-:d:783634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Julia Hansen & Artur Galimov & Jennifer B. Unger & Steve Y. Sussman & Reiner Hanewinkel, 2023. "Mental Health and Physical Complaints of German Children and Adolescents before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, March.

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