Abstract
(1) Background: The psychological effects of confinement due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic on children are only partially known. In Madrid, Spain, children suffered a strict confinement for 10 weeks and they returned to school under conditions that were far from normal. This work assesses the effects of the pandemic on the anxiety levels of a group of children living in Madrid. (2) Methods: Children were aged 6 to 11 years (N = 215). A self-report measure of anxiety was completed by participants at two time-points: (1) a few months before the beginning of the pandemic and (2) 1 year later. A smaller subgroup of participants also completed the measure during the confinement period (n = 60). (3) Results: A comparison of these three measures shows that the children’s anxiety was reduced during confinement, and that one year later these levels continue below those registered before the start of the pandemic. (4) Conclusions: These results contradict some previous studies, which found an increase in children’s anxiety as a result of confinement and the pandemic. The discussion considers protective and vulnerability factors in the context of the pandemic, which may affect children’s levels of anxiety.
Highlights
The health emergency generated by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is affecting our society in many different ways
The results have shown that in comparison with the months before the start of the health crisis, the period of confinement led to a reduction of anxiety levels—significantly in the case of older children
Our results show that confinement led to a reduction in anxiety and that the return to school in the current pandemic conditions has not increased children’s anxiety levels
Summary
The health emergency generated by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is affecting our society in many different ways. At the end of April 2020, the measures began to be gradually eased, allowing children to go out of their homes for 1 h a day, the schools remained closed. These measures remained in force for a further month. Schools have reduced the number of children per classroom; they have established student bubbles, limited contact between peers, eliminated the activities that involve physical contact, reduced spaces for play and obliged the children to wear masks at all times All these measures have resulted in the children being greatly limited in their normal play and extra-curricular activities, as well as in their contact with other children
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