Daily Behaviors, Worries and Emotions in Children and Adolescents with ADHD and Learning Difficulties during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Terpsichori Korpa,Matthaios Katsounas,Anastasia Sfinari,Anna Eleftheriades,Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein,Theodora Pappa,Panagiota Pervanidou,Giorgos Chouliaras

doi:10.3390/children8110995

Terpsichori Korpa, Matthaios Katsounas + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/children8110995

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the coronavirus crisis on behavioral and emotional parameters in children and adolescents with ADHD and Learning Difficulties. A total of 101 children, 5–18 years old, were included in the study, 63 (44 boys) of which were diagnosed with ADHD and learning difficulties (ADHD/LD) and 38 were healthy children (19 boys). The CRISIS questionnaire for parents/caregivers was used. The questionnaire was completed during the first national lockdown in Greece and the data referred to two time-points: 3 months before, and the past 2 weeks. A significant deterioration in the “Emotion/Worries (EW)” symptoms was observed during the pandemic in the control group (2.62 ± 0.16 vs. 2.83 ± 0.18, p < 0.001). No such differences were noted in the ADHD group: 3.08 ± 0.25 vs. 3.12 ± 0.29, p = 0.12. Provision of educational and activities support was related to increased EW before the crisis. In ADHD/LD children, higher parental education and child’s younger age were related to increased symptoms of EW. In the entire group, previous mental health conditions, increasing stress due to restrictions, and increased COVID-related worries were positively associated with the EW symptoms during the crisis. Less affected relations with friends and less reduction in contact with people outside the home were negatively related with EW during the crisis. The study revealed specific parameters that negatively affected the emotional and behavioral variables of children with ADHD and learning difficulties.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency that generated a public health crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greek government decided on a general lockdown which raised concerns regarding the mental health of children and adolescents since confinement as a preventative measure could itself consist of a psychosocial adversity factor that affects families and their children
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been studied in several populations; they have not been thoroughly studied among potentially higher-risk groups, such as children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning difficulties (LDs)

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency that generated a public health crisis. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been studied in several populations; they have not been thoroughly studied among potentially higher-risk groups, such as children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning difficulties (LDs). ADHD and learning disorders have been studied throughout the years depicting the frequency of such comorbidity among the population of ADHD children and adolescents [4]. ADHD and LD adolescents often face challenging social obstacles, which arise from difficulties experienced during their interaction with peers [7,8]. They experience social isolation and self-esteem impairment, which are sustained through adulthood [9,10]. A hostile parental behavior resulting from these could influence the severity of ADHD symptomatology in children and adolescents [13,14,15]

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