THU229 Assessing The Effect Of The Changing Levels Of Restrictions Placed By The COVID-19 Pandemic On Children And Their Behaviors

Abstract

Abstract Disclosure: G.S. Babar: None. E.C. Wee: None. E. Paprocki: None. T. Luetjen: None. Y. Yan: None. BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic changed lifestyles of children. To prevent the spread of the virus, school closures with virtual learning, suspension of organized sports and social distancing were implemented.Objective: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children including social circumstances, eating behaviors, physical activity, and emotional responses in families with children between the ages of 5-12 years. Design/Methods: After verbal consent an IRB approved survey was sent via email to families seen at outpatient Endocrine clinics between January 2022 to December 2022. Results: There were 175 children from 99 households (1.8 children per household), 39% were single-child, 44% had two children, and 16% had at least 3 children. Nearly 60% (103) of the children were boys, and 85% (148) of the children were white. Twenty seven percent reported that it was more screen time than before the pandemic, with average of 3.01 hours (SD=2.5). Sixty one percent reported that their physical activity levels were like pre-pandemic, with an average of 1.5 hours (SD=1.5). When alone and not busy their children were sometimes (48, 45%) or frequently (46, 26%) bored. Most parents report that the meal (150, 87%) and snack (172, 98%) frequency are like the frequency before the pandemic. Children have some degree of difficulty with emotions, concentration or behavior, with nearly a 31% (53) experiencing mild difficulties, 23% (40) experiencing moderate difficulties, and 3% (5) experiencing severe difficulties. Fifty seven percent of parents report that the difficulties have been present for more than a year, and for 49 children (28%) the difficulties are relatively new (i.e., present less than a month). In 20-25% of children, the difficulties interfere “a medium amount”, to “a great deal” at home (45, 26%), with friends (32, 19%), and at school (47, 27%). The difficulties generally don’t upset the children (127, 74% “not at all” or “only a little”) or place a significant burden on families (136, 79% “not at all” or “only a little”). About 20-25% of children, the difficulties interfere “a medium amount” to “a great deal” at home (45, 26%), with friends (32, 19%), and at school (47, 27%). Sleep remained about the same amount as before the pandemic (152, 98%), and that they can fall and stay asleep like the sleeping behaviors prior to the pandemic (156, 89%). Stress level was rated as 4.9 (SD=2.7) on a 10-point scale. Weight changes were attributed to changes in eating habits (116, 66%) and physical activity (101, 58%), with less than 20% due to issues at school (18, 10%), screen time (27, 15%), or sleep (27, 15%). Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in screen time, decreased physical activity, mild difficulty on emotions, concentration and behavior in about one third of the children. Children had an increased stress level compared to the pre-pandemic era. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023