Children's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based cohort study in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Examine children's mental health symptoms, including changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The COVID Experiences Surveys, designed to be representative of the U.S. household population, were administered online to parents of children aged 5-12 years (wave 1 (W1), October-November 2020, n = 1561; wave 2 (W2), March-May 2021, n = 1287). We modeled changes in children's symptoms of anxiety, depression, and psychological stress and examined associations between demographic characteristics, COVID-19 related experiences, and protective factors with symptoms across both waves using generalized estimating equations.

Results

Based on parent-report, children's symptoms of anxiety and depression decreased from W1 to W2 (Δ t-score anxiety = -1.8 [95% confidence in

SUBMITTER: Pampati S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10843774 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature