Mental and Social Health of Children and Adolescents With Pre-existing Mental or Somatic Problems During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.

Josjan Zijlmans,Kim J Oostrom,Tinca J C Polderman,Malindi Van Der Mheen,Hanneke Van Ewijk,Ramón Lindauer,Lotte Haverman,Pieter J Hoekstra,Lorynn Teela,Maud M Van Muilekom,Arne Popma,Wouter Staal,Hyun Ruisch,Michiel A J Luijten,Hedy A Van Oers,Helen Klip,Jan Buitelaar,Robert Vermeiren

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.692853

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown increases psychological problems in children and adolescents from the general population. Here we investigate the mental and social health during the COVID-19 lockdown in children and adolescents with pre-existing mental or somatic problems.Methods: We included participants (8–18 years) from a psychiatric (N = 249) and pediatric (N = 90) sample, and compared them to a general population sample (N = 844). Measures were assessed during the first lockdown (April-May 2020) in the Netherlands. Main outcome measures were Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) domains: Global Health, Peer Relationships, Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, Anger, and Sleep-Related Impairment, as reported by children and youth. Additionally, socio-demographic variables, COVID-19-related questions, changes in atmosphere at home from a parent and child perspective, and children's experiences of lockdown regulations were reported by parents.Results: On all measures except Global Health, the pediatric sample reported least problems. The psychiatric sample reported significantly more problems than the general population sample on all measures except for Anxiety and Peer Relationships. Having a COVID-19 affected friend/relative and a COVID-19 related change in parental work situation negatively moderated outcome, but not in the samples with pre-existing problems. All parents reported significant decreases in atmosphere at home, as did children from the general population.Conclusion: We observed significant differences in mental and social health between three child and adolescent samples during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and identified COVID-19-related factors influencing mental and social health.

Highlights

The COVID-19 lockdown increases psychological problems in children and adolescents from the general population
The mean age was 12.8 years, 56.2% was male, 17.7% had an infected relative/friend, and 18.9% of their parents experienced a negative change in parental work situation due to COVID-19
The mean age was 12.9 years, 55.6% was male, 33.3% had an infected relative/friend, and 21.1% of their parents had a negative change in parental work situation due to COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 lockdown increases psychological problems in children and adolescents from the general population. We investigate the mental and social health during the COVID-19 lockdown in children and adolescents with pre-existing mental or somatic problems. It is well-known that large scale disasters have great impact on the well-being of the general population. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major game changer in the life of many individuals across the world. During COVID-19, increased rates of anxiety and depression, and decreased psychological wellbeing have been reported in the adult general population [4], and adult psychiatric patients show worsening of their symptoms [5]

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