Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study
We used an epidemiological study to explore the perception of change in several psychosocial dimensions during the COVID-19 quarantine. We focused on emotions, use of social network sites (SNSs), family life, important relationships, body functions, and school life. Using snowball recruitment, <i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/6/806 |
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| author | Giulia Bassi Elisa Mancinelli Bianca Boldrini Giada Mondini Emilia Ferruzza Daniela Di Riso Silvia Salcuni |
| author_facet | Giulia Bassi Elisa Mancinelli Bianca Boldrini Giada Mondini Emilia Ferruzza Daniela Di Riso Silvia Salcuni |
| author_sort | Giulia Bassi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We used an epidemiological study to explore the perception of change in several psychosocial dimensions during the COVID-19 quarantine. We focused on emotions, use of social network sites (SNSs), family life, important relationships, body functions, and school life. Using snowball recruitment, <i>N</i> = 1047 Italian children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents (M = 13.74 ± 3.59) were selected to complete ad hoc online questionnaires. A differential semantic inventory plot was prepared to analyze the emotional experience of children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents during quarantine compared to the pre-quarantine period. The Kruskal–Wallis test was run to assess gender and age differences in emotions experienced, habitual SNS use, and the experience of attending classes remotely. A post hoc Wilcoxon test was performed to compare such differences. Results showed that most of the sample (93.1%) attended classes using technological devices and reported missing their classmates very much (59.3%). Adolescents experienced more negative emotions (M = 3.69 ± 1.33) than pre-adolescents (M = 4.64 ± 1.32), who experienced negative emotions more than children (M = 5.11 ± 1.24). Females were more prone to experience negative emotions compared to males. Adolescents were also the most prolific SNS users (78.1%), particularly female adolescents. Overall, these finding highlight the necessity of preserving the emotional state and relational well-being of youth in these developmental phases by considering their school and social lives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:08:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f4c9e75ca0649878e9b7e40658ccc34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:08:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f4c9e75ca0649878e9b7e40658ccc342023-11-23T16:05:05ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-05-019680610.3390/children9060806Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological StudyGiulia Bassi0Elisa Mancinelli1Bianca Boldrini2Giada Mondini3Emilia Ferruzza4Daniela Di Riso5Silvia Salcuni6Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, ItalyThe Italian Sexology Center (Centro Italiano di Sessuologia, CIS), 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, ItalyWe used an epidemiological study to explore the perception of change in several psychosocial dimensions during the COVID-19 quarantine. We focused on emotions, use of social network sites (SNSs), family life, important relationships, body functions, and school life. Using snowball recruitment, <i>N</i> = 1047 Italian children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents (M = 13.74 ± 3.59) were selected to complete ad hoc online questionnaires. A differential semantic inventory plot was prepared to analyze the emotional experience of children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents during quarantine compared to the pre-quarantine period. The Kruskal–Wallis test was run to assess gender and age differences in emotions experienced, habitual SNS use, and the experience of attending classes remotely. A post hoc Wilcoxon test was performed to compare such differences. Results showed that most of the sample (93.1%) attended classes using technological devices and reported missing their classmates very much (59.3%). Adolescents experienced more negative emotions (M = 3.69 ± 1.33) than pre-adolescents (M = 4.64 ± 1.32), who experienced negative emotions more than children (M = 5.11 ± 1.24). Females were more prone to experience negative emotions compared to males. Adolescents were also the most prolific SNS users (78.1%), particularly female adolescents. Overall, these finding highlight the necessity of preserving the emotional state and relational well-being of youth in these developmental phases by considering their school and social lives.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/6/806emotionssocial network siteschildrenadolescentsCOVID-19quarantine |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Bassi Elisa Mancinelli Bianca Boldrini Giada Mondini Emilia Ferruzza Daniela Di Riso Silvia Salcuni Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study Children emotions social network sites children adolescents COVID-19 quarantine |
| title | Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_full | Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_fullStr | Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_short | Perception of Changing Habits among Italian Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Quarantine: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_sort | perception of changing habits among italian children and adolescents during covid 19 quarantine an epidemiological study |
| topic | emotions social network sites children adolescents COVID-19 quarantine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/6/806 |
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