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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Psychiatry. Nov 19, 2022; 12(11): 1313-1322
Published online Nov 19, 2022. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i11.1313
Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Types of studies: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, experimental and observational studies, human studiesArticles that were not in English; studies that did not report age; studies that included participants with mental health issues prior to COVID-19
Types of Participants: Studies carried out with children and adolescents (3 to 19 years old) from 2021 to 2022
Interventions: Children and adolescents impacted by COVID-19 and its repercussions on mental health
Types of results: Rates of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in times of COVID-19
Secondary outcomes: Fear, anguish, pain and psychic suffering related to the pandemic
Table 2 Characteristics of included studies (n = 24)
Ref.
Country
Study design
Target population
Total participants
Exposure
Outcomes
Barros et al[19], 2022BrazilCross-sectional-electronic questionnaire12-17 years9470 adolescentsCOVID-19The data showed that factors such as: Family problems, female gender, age 15-17 years, learning disabilities, relatives infected with COVID-19, and death of close friends from COVID-19 were factors associated with worsening mental health
Okuyama et al[1], 2021JapanReviewChildren under 18 yearsStudies included (n = 28)COVID-19Studies have shown correlation between physical activity and psychological health and sedentary time leading to mood disorders. Some studies on adolescents reported a correlation between physical activity and psychological health and others did not
Demaria and Vicari[2], 2021ItalyCommentaryNANACOVID-19The pandemic context, with regard to quarantine, proved to be a psychologically stressful experience
Sayed et al[3], 2021Saudi ArabiaCross-sectional-online via social media12.25 ± 3.77 years537 children (263 boys and 275 girls)COVID-19The data showed that Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were not correlated with school grade, sex, age or having a close relative working with people infected by COVID-19
Meherali et al[4], 2021Canada, Pakistan, AustraliaSystematic reviews5-19 yearsStudies included (n = 18)COVID-19These studies reported that pandemics cause stress, worry, helplessness, and social and risky behavioral problems among children and adolescents
Bussières et al[5], 2021CanadaMeta-analysis5-13 yearsStudies included (n = 28)COVID-19During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restriction measures imposed had an impact on children’s mental health. During this period, there was also a change in sleep habits. Even so, the results do not show significant differences in relation to the general population
Bentenuto et al[6], 2021ItalyRetrospectiveChildren with NDD and TDTotal 164 (NND 82 and TD 82)COVID-19Quantitative analyzes demonstrated an increase in children’s externalizing behaviors and parental stress. However, they also showed that parents enjoyed spending more time with their children and strengthening the parent-child relationship. Furthermore, in children with NDD, the reduction in therapeutic measures predisposes to high externalizing behaviors
Burnett et al[7], 2021Sweden, Australia, ItalyCross-sectional-online self-reported surveyParents of children aged 3-18 yearsAustralia (n = 196); Italy (n = 200)COVID-19When compared to other developmental disorders among parents in Australia and Italy, intellectual or learning disorders are the ones that bring them the most suffering
Raffagnato et al[8], 2021ItalyLongitudinalPsychiatric patients age between 6 and 18 years and their parents39 patients and their parents (25 girls and 14 boys)COVID-19Patients with behavioral disorders were more impacted when compared to patients with internalizing disorders, who were shown to have adapted better to the pandemic context. In parents, it was possible to observe a protective factor against psychological maladjustment. A decrease in mothers’ anxiety and fathers’ stress over time was also observed
Kerr et al[9], 2021United StatesCross-sectional-online surveyParents with at least one child 12 years old or younger1000 participantsCOVID-19As for the psychological impacts, the data show high levels of stress and low levels of positive behavior in children, and a high rate of parental exhaustion. Still, there is an indirect association between parental behavior and the psychological impacts of COVID-19 and children’s behaviors. The data also showed that the difference in income is a factor that can increase this indirect association
Sesso et al[10], 2021ItalyCross-sectional-online questionnaireParents of children 6.62 ± 3.12 years with neuropsychiatric disorders77 participantsCOVID-19Internalizing problems in children during quarantine were the strongest predictor of parental stress
Li and Zhou[11], 2021ChinaCross-sectional-online questionnaire5-8 years: 647 children; 9-13 years: 245 adolescents892 valid questionnaires (mothers 662 and fathers 230)COVID-19Concerning the data, it was possible to observe that parents are worried about their children’s internalization and externalization problems. It was observed that, in elementary school, significant and negative relationships were observed between family-based disaster education and internalizing and externalizing problems
Bate et al[12], 2021United StatesCross-sectional-online via social mediaParents of children (6-12 years)158 parents of children (151 mothers and 7 fathers)COVID-19It was observed that the biggest EH problems of parents were due to the impact of COVID-19. Parents’ EH was a positive predictor of children’s EBH
Kim et al[13], 2021Suwon, South KoreaCross-sectional-web based questionnaireParents of children aged 7-12 years217 parentsCOVID-19With schools closed, children had body weight gain, spent less time doing physical activities and more time using the media. In addition, an association can be observed between parental depression and children’s sleep problems, TV time, tablet time and behavior problems
Minozzi et al[14], 2021ItalySystematic reviewPre-school children, children 5-12 years and adolescentsStudies included (n = 64)COVID-19Studies have reported an increase in suicides, reduced access to psychiatric emergency services, reduction in allegations of maltreatment. The prevalence of anxiety among adolescents varied considerably, as did depression, although in a lower percentage
Backer et al[15], 2021NetherlandsCross-sectional-questionnaire0-4, 5-9, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and ≥ 90 years7250 participantsCOVID-19During the physical distancing restriction measures, it is possible to observe that community contacts in all age groups were restricted to an average of 5 contacts. After relaxation, it was observed that the children returned to maintain their normal contact number, while the elderly maintained their restricted contact numbers
Qin et al[16], 2021Guangdong province, ChinaCross-sectional-electronic questionnaireSchool-aged students [12.04 (3.01) years]1 199 320 children and adolescentsCOVID-19Among those who reported psychological distress, the risk of psychological distress was analyzed among high school and elementary school students, among students who never used a mask and those who did, and among students who spent less than 0.5 h exercising and those who spent more than 1 h
Lu et al[17], 2021China, United KingdomSystematic review and meta-analysischildren and adolescents (0-18 years)Studies included (n = 23)COVID-19Studies show a combined prevalence of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress symptoms
Ma et al[18], 2021China, United StatesCross-sectional-online self-report questionnaires6-8 years17740 children and adolescentsCOVID-19The data reported that depressive, anxiety, compulsive, inattentive and sleep-related problems were more expressive when compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak
Spencer et al[23], 2021United StatesCohort study5-11 yearsCaregivers of 168 children (54% non-Hispanic black, 29% Hispanic, and 22% non-English speaking)COVID-19Children had significantly higher emotional and behavioral symptoms mid-pandemic vs pre-pandemic in all scenarios
Han and Song[20], 2021South KoreaRetrospectiveMiddle and high school students54948 studentsCOVID-19The data showed, through multivariate logistic regression, that there was a correlation between the perception of the economic situation of the family and the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation
Giannakopoulos et al[21], 2021GreeceQuality study-interviews12-17 years09 psychiatric inpatientsCOVID-19Patients identified that the state of quarantine caused negative changes in personal freedom and social life, as well as excessive contact with family members during social isolation
Almhizai et al[22], 2021Saudi ArabiaCross sectional study-online self-administered questionnaire0-17 years1141 respondents, 454 were < 18 years old and 688 children’s parentsCOVID-19Among the data presented, age was a factor for sleep disorders, nervousness and malaise; aggressive behaviors were also associated with an increase in negative behaviors during the pandemic compared to the previous period
Maunula et al[24], 2021Northern prairie communities, CanadaMulti-method study, focus groups, and interviewsChildren grade 4-6 and their parents31 patients (16 children and 15 parents)COVID-19Children were subjected to sudden and stressful changes in their routines. In addition, loneliness and increased screen time were a result of limited social interaction