The impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and lockdown on quality of life of healthy school aged children and adolescents

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and lockdown may influence children and adolescents’ quality of life (QoL). Aim To assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on QoL of school-aged children and adolescents. Patients and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Alexandria, on children and adolescents, fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria, during June 1st–10th, by an anonymous online questionnaire, sent through social media to participants, to assess their negative impact, feelings, and QoL. QoL was classified as poor, fair, or good. Results The study included 423 participants. Mean age 13.36±13.3 years. About 77.7% of participants adhered to lockdown completely. Around half of participants were negatively impacted by feeling bored, cannot leave the house, go to restaurants or cafes, see their friends, go on holidays, or go shopping. More than half felt bored, wanted their life to return to normal, afraid that they or a family member catches the disease, or want this to end. About 76.6% of participants had poor QoL, 23.2% had fair QoL, and 0.2% had good QoL. QoL was statistically significantly associated with age of participants, caregivers they are living with, and the number of their siblings, following lockdown, being negatively impacted by being unable to go shopping or go on holidays and feeling afraid to catch the disease. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have an impact on school-aged children and adolescents’ feelings and a significant negative impact on their QoL changing it to fair or poor. Their QoL is influenced by their age, sex, their caregivers, unable to go shopping or go on holidays, and their fear to catch the disease, with a statistically significant association.