What about the Consequences of the Use of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Survey on the Psychological Effects in Both Children and Parents.

Rocco Salvatore Calabrò,Maria Grazia Maggio,Antonino Cannavò,Patrizia Calatozzo,Daniele Bruschetta,Giovanni Pioggia,Maria Chiara Stagnitti,Alfredo Manuli,Marilena Foti Cuzzola

doi:10.3390/ijerph182312641

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic implicated many social restrictions, including the use of distance learning (DL). Indeed, parents were obligated to support their children in online lessons and schoolwork. The aim of this study was to investigate the psycho-emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents and children submitted to DL. Methods: One hundred and ninety-two participants (96 parents and 96 children) were enrolled in this study. Parents and children completed an online questionnaire, structured in four sections. Results: The results showed that parents had higher levels of stress and anxiety. In particular, the stress for DL was positively correlated with depression and anxiety. Parents’ jobs were negatively correlated with their levels of anxiety and stress. On the other hand, children reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and event-related anxiety, which increased as children got older. The stress and the anxiety in parents were positively correlated with the mood depression and anxiety of their children. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the psychological well-being of children and parents who used DL. Although DL could be an alternative teaching method during pandemics, face-to-face teaching is fundamental and irreplaceable as it encourages dialogue, involvement, and human contact.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic, an infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus SARSCoV-2, is a global health problem that has affected millions of people since January 2020 [1]
We used a cross-sectional survey design to assess the psychological effects of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on both parents and children, using an anonymous online questionnaire
We evaluated the psychological impact of COVID-19 on Italian children aged 5–16 and their parents, with regard to the use of distance learning (DL)

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic, an infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus SARSCoV-2, is a global health problem that has affected millions of people since January 2020 [1].To limit COVID-19 transmission, national governments took precautionary actions, such as adopting careful personal hygiene, wearing masks and gloves, and implementing social distancing [2]. The Italian government adopted measures aimed at limiting social contacts, including the closure of public places (i.e., schools, offices, theatres, restaurants, bars, parts of public transport) and exhorting people to stay at home [3]. These measures of social distancing caused substantial changes in daily social life, affecting children’s, adolescents’, and parents’ lifestyles. The stress for DL was positively correlated with depression and anxiety. Parents’ jobs were negatively correlated with their levels of anxiety and stress. The stress and the anxiety in parents were positively correlated with the mood depression and anxiety of their children. DL could be an alternative teaching method during pandemics, face-to-face teaching is fundamental and irreplaceable as it encourages dialogue, involvement, and human contact

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Conclusion