Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis

BackgroundPublished studies in comparing pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic depression and anxiety levels among children and adolescents yielded incongruent results. Therefore, there is a necessity to perform a timely meta-analysis to synthesize existing evidence.MethodsA total of 10 digital databas...

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Main Authors: Sifan Wang, Lin Chen, Hailiang Ran, Yusan Che, Die Fang, Hao Sun, Junwei Peng, Xuemeng Liang, Yuanyuan Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.917552/full
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author Sifan Wang
Lin Chen
Hailiang Ran
Yusan Che
Die Fang
Hao Sun
Junwei Peng
Xuemeng Liang
Yuanyuan Xiao
author_facet Sifan Wang
Lin Chen
Hailiang Ran
Yusan Che
Die Fang
Hao Sun
Junwei Peng
Xuemeng Liang
Yuanyuan Xiao
author_sort Sifan Wang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPublished studies in comparing pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic depression and anxiety levels among children and adolescents yielded incongruent results. Therefore, there is a necessity to perform a timely meta-analysis to synthesize existing evidence.MethodsA total of 10 digital databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, CNKI, WanFang, CQVIP) were fully searched for eligible studies published before November 6, 2021. Based on quality assessment results, relevant data were extracted for eligible studies of higher quality. We combined standardized mean difference (SMD) or prevalence ratio (RR) for anxiety and depression pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic by using random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis was further performed to evaluate heterogeneity of included studies.Results14,508 articles were preliminarily identified, and after stepwise screening process, 8 articles were included eventually. The results showed that the SMD for post COVID-19 anxiety score measured by GAD-7 was 0.12 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.17), an significant increase compared with pre COVID-19 period; the SMDs and 95% CIs for post COVID-18 depression scores measured by PHQ-9, PHQ-8, and MFQ were 0.17 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.24), 0.23 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.38), and 0.11 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.17), respectively, also significantly increased compared with pre COVID-19 period. The RR for depression was 2.54 (95% CI: 2.48, 2.60) in post COVID-19 period when compared with pre-pandemic.ConclusionsChildren and adolescents reported deteriorated anxiety and depression levels after the COVID-19 pandemic. More attention should be paid to this vulnerable group. Effective, expedient, and practical intervention measures which are compatible with COVID-19 prevention and control policies should be developed and implemented to maintain mental health wellbeing of the youths.
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spelling doaj.art-1798b9fe32744915afb0580688e02d442022-12-22T02:33:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-08-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.917552917552Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysisSifan WangLin ChenHailiang RanYusan CheDie FangHao SunJunwei PengXuemeng LiangYuanyuan XiaoBackgroundPublished studies in comparing pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic depression and anxiety levels among children and adolescents yielded incongruent results. Therefore, there is a necessity to perform a timely meta-analysis to synthesize existing evidence.MethodsA total of 10 digital databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, CNKI, WanFang, CQVIP) were fully searched for eligible studies published before November 6, 2021. Based on quality assessment results, relevant data were extracted for eligible studies of higher quality. We combined standardized mean difference (SMD) or prevalence ratio (RR) for anxiety and depression pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic by using random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis was further performed to evaluate heterogeneity of included studies.Results14,508 articles were preliminarily identified, and after stepwise screening process, 8 articles were included eventually. The results showed that the SMD for post COVID-19 anxiety score measured by GAD-7 was 0.12 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.17), an significant increase compared with pre COVID-19 period; the SMDs and 95% CIs for post COVID-18 depression scores measured by PHQ-9, PHQ-8, and MFQ were 0.17 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.24), 0.23 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.38), and 0.11 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.17), respectively, also significantly increased compared with pre COVID-19 period. The RR for depression was 2.54 (95% CI: 2.48, 2.60) in post COVID-19 period when compared with pre-pandemic.ConclusionsChildren and adolescents reported deteriorated anxiety and depression levels after the COVID-19 pandemic. More attention should be paid to this vulnerable group. Effective, expedient, and practical intervention measures which are compatible with COVID-19 prevention and control policies should be developed and implemented to maintain mental health wellbeing of the youths.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.917552/fulldepressionanxietychildren and adolescentCOVID-19meta-analysis
spellingShingle Sifan Wang
Lin Chen
Hailiang Ran
Yusan Che
Die Fang
Hao Sun
Junwei Peng
Xuemeng Liang
Yuanyuan Xiao
Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis
Frontiers in Psychiatry
depression
anxiety
children and adolescent
COVID-19
meta-analysis
title Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis
title_full Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis
title_fullStr Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis
title_short Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post COVID-19: A comparative meta-analysis
title_sort depression and anxiety among children and adolescents pre and post covid 19 a comparative meta analysis
topic depression
anxiety
children and adolescent
COVID-19
meta-analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.917552/full
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