Brief Report: A Cross-Sectional Study of Anxiety Levels and Concerns of Chinese Families of Children With Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Post-first-wave of COVID-19

Yufang Yang,Xiaomei Peng,Mirko Uljarević,Andrea C. Samson,Ru Ying Cai,Jo Van Herwegen,Daniel Dukes,Xueyun Su

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708465

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has a multifaceted impact on mental health due to ill health, restrictions and lockdowns, and loss of employment and institutional support. COVID-19 may disproportionally impact families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) due to the already higher prevalence of mental health conditions in children with SEND and their parents. Therefore, it is essential to determine the short-term impact of the pandemic on the mental health of families with SEND in order to identify their ongoing health support needs. The current study aims to examine the anxiety level and concerns of children with SEND and their parents living in China. The sample consisted of 271 parents of children with SEND aged between 6 and 17 years (Mage = 8.37; SDage = 2.76). Parents completed an online survey between 10 April to 8 June 2020. Both child and parental anxiety levels and various concerns increased after the initial wave of COVID-19 when compared with retrospective pre-COVID-19 levels. Parental anxiety and concern levels were significantly higher for those living in rural areas compared to urban areas. In addition, parental and child anxiety and concern levels were significantly correlated with each other. Parental anxiety at the lowest level made a unique and significant statistical contribution to children's anxiety levels. The implications of the study findings are discussed.

Highlights

Epidemics and pandemics such as Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have led to increased rates of psychopathology, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms [1, 2]
We explored a range of health- and life-related concerns of parents and children and examined whether the anxiety and concern levels of parents post-COVID-19 were influenced by residence locality or disability types
This study aimed to examine the anxiety levels and concerns of Chinese parents and their children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) after the initial wave of the pandemic that occurred between December 2019 and April 2020

Summary

Introduction

Epidemics and pandemics such as Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have led to increased rates of psychopathology, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms [1, 2]. Anxiety Chinese SEND Families COVID-19 prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression during the first few months of the COVD-19 pandemic were 29.6, 31.9, and 33.7%, respectively [4] These rates are much higher than the prevalence of mental illnesses before the start of the pandemic, even in conflict-affected populations [e.g., [5]]. Apart from the mental health effects of losses related to COVID-19, misinformation and experiencing fear of the COVID-19 outbreak itself (or coronaphobia) lead to feelings of helplessness, loneliness, depression, generalized anxiety, and death anxiety [12, 13]. Most of these studies were conducted in general populations. The mental health impact on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families are largely overlooked, despite them being among the most vulnerable population

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