Impact of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) Pandemic and Lockdown on Parents and Caregivers in Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted parents' and children's well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its preventive measures on children's well-being and their parents' anxiety level. Parents/caregivers were invited to respond to a self-administered survey. The primary outcome was to assess the rate and severity of parental anxiety during the pandemic/lockdown. Four hundred and thirty parents completed the survey. Ninety-two (21%) and 10 (2%) parents reported that their children gained or lost weight during the pandemic, respectively. Eighty-one (19%) parents reported a regression in their children's developmental milestones, particularly in toileting, speech, and social interaction. The GAD-7 mean scores increased by 2.9 points (95% CI [2.5, 3.25]; P < .001) in comparison with prepandemic scores. Adjusted multivariable analysis showed that having children with psychological conditions and a maternal education level less than a university degree were significantly associated with higher parental anxiety.