Study indicates impact of pandemic on children and youths

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, head of the COPSY study and research director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics at UKE, believes that those who were in a good position before the pandemic, are in familiar structures and are comfortable with their families, will weather the pandemic well. However, reliable concepts are needed to strengthen the mental health of children from at-risk families. 

Four out of five of children and youths surveyed feel burdened down by the pandemic. Their quality of life had also deteriorated further with seven out of ten children reporting a reduced quality of life compared to only three out of ten respondents before the crisis. At the same time, the risk of mental health problems remains high. Fears and worries have increased significantly among children compared to the first survey. They show signs of depression or psychosomatic complaints more frequently.

The healthy behaviour of children and youths has further deteriorated. Children are spending even more time in front of screens e.g. mobile phones, tablets, game consoles, and continue to eat unhealthily with lots of sweets and do significantly less to no sport at all. This is particularly worrying, according to Ravens-Sieberer. "Exercise is so important for the healthy development of children and youths. They also meet their friends during sports, learn how to fit into a team and deal with conflicts, victories and defeats."

Children and youths are also mentioning more quarrels with their families, increased problems at school and poorer relationships with their friends. Many parents feel weighed down by the ongoing pandemic and are increasingly showing signs of depression. "Parents seem to have adjusted to the demands of home schooling and the double burden of their work and are trying to manage as best they can. However, they are increasingly reaching their limits," said Ravens-Sieberer.

This is associated with a presumably higher number of unreported cases of child welfare risks, a study by the Research Network for Medical Child Protection at UKE has found. Cases of child welfare risks in German children's hospitals and child protection outpatient clinics decreased by up to 20 per cent in the first lockdown (March/April 2020) compared to the same period in 2019. Thus, the number of unreported cases of child abuse and neglect may have increased further, the researchers suspect.

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