Evolución de la salud mental infanto-juvenil en Catalunya en el contexto de la pandemia por la COVID-19 durante el curso escolar 2020-2021

Abstract

IntroductionThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a great impact on the physical and psychological health of the population. The aim of our study was to assess child and adolescent mental health in a cohort throughout the 2020-2021 school year. MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal prospective study in a cohort of children aged 5 to 14 years in Catalonia, Spain, from September 2020 to July 2021. Participants were randomly selected and followed up by their primary care paediatricians. The risk of mental health problems was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), completed by one of the legal guardians of the child. In addition, we obtained information on the sociodemographic and health characteristics of the participants and their nuclear families. We collected the data by means of an online survey through the REDCap platform at the beginning of the academic year and at the end of each term (4 time points). ResultsAt the beginning of the school year, 9.8% of participants were cases of probable psychopathology compared to 6.2% at the end of the year. The perceived level of worry of the children for their own health and the health of their families was associated with the presence of psychopathology, especially at the beginning of the year, while the perception of a good family atmosphere was consistently associated with a decreased risk. No variable related to COVID-19 was associated with abnormal results in the SDQ. ConclusionsDuring the 2020-2021 school year, the percentage of children with probable psychopathology decreased from 9.8% to 6.2%.