Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous obstacles to psychosocial wellbeing for children. We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate child mental health and social risks during the pandemic. Methods Participants were 172 caregivers of children aged 6–11 years old who attended wel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00712-4 |
| _version_ | 1797259525967839232 |
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| author | Rachel Oblath Rohan Dayal J. Krystel Loubeau Julia Lejeune Jennifer Sikov Meera Savage Catalina Posse Sonal Jain Nicole Zolli Tithi D. Baul Valeria Ladino Chelsea Ji Jessica Kabrt Lillian Sidky Megan Rabin Do Yoon Kim Imme Kobayashi J. Michael Murphy Arvin Garg Andrea E. Spencer |
| author_facet | Rachel Oblath Rohan Dayal J. Krystel Loubeau Julia Lejeune Jennifer Sikov Meera Savage Catalina Posse Sonal Jain Nicole Zolli Tithi D. Baul Valeria Ladino Chelsea Ji Jessica Kabrt Lillian Sidky Megan Rabin Do Yoon Kim Imme Kobayashi J. Michael Murphy Arvin Garg Andrea E. Spencer |
| author_sort | Rachel Oblath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous obstacles to psychosocial wellbeing for children. We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate child mental health and social risks during the pandemic. Methods Participants were 172 caregivers of children aged 6–11 years old who attended well child visits within 6 months before pandemic onset at an urban safety net hospital in the US. Prepandemic data was extracted from the electronic medical record, and surveys were administered at three time points between August 2020 and July 2021. We measured mental health symptoms with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17, social risks (e.g., food and housing insecurity) with the THRIVE questionnaire, and school modality (in-person, hybrid, remote). Results Compared to pre-pandemic, children had significantly higher PSC-17 total scores (overall mental health symptoms) and THRIVE total scores (total burden of social risks) at all three mid-pandemic waves. Using longitudinal mixed models accounting for time, social risks, and school modality, both social risks (B = 0.37, SE = 0.14, p < 0.01) and school modality were significantly associated with PSC-17 scores (B = − 1.95, SE = 0.63, p < 0.01). Children attending in-person school had fewer mental health symptoms than those attending remote or hybrid school. Conclusion Mental health symptoms and social risks remained significantly higher fifteen months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prepandemic. In-person attendance at school appeared protective against persistently elevated mental health symptoms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:10:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be97dd1f4a0b4e9ea74b0a8569ec60fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:10:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-be97dd1f4a0b4e9ea74b0a8569ec60fe2024-03-17T12:14:45ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002024-03-0118111110.1186/s13034-024-00712-4Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal studyRachel Oblath0Rohan Dayal1J. Krystel Loubeau2Julia Lejeune3Jennifer Sikov4Meera Savage5Catalina Posse6Sonal Jain7Nicole Zolli8Tithi D. Baul9Valeria Ladino10Chelsea Ji11Jessica Kabrt12Lillian Sidky13Megan Rabin14Do Yoon Kim15Imme Kobayashi16J. Michael Murphy17Arvin Garg18Andrea E. Spencer19Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics, Child Health Equity Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous obstacles to psychosocial wellbeing for children. We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate child mental health and social risks during the pandemic. Methods Participants were 172 caregivers of children aged 6–11 years old who attended well child visits within 6 months before pandemic onset at an urban safety net hospital in the US. Prepandemic data was extracted from the electronic medical record, and surveys were administered at three time points between August 2020 and July 2021. We measured mental health symptoms with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17, social risks (e.g., food and housing insecurity) with the THRIVE questionnaire, and school modality (in-person, hybrid, remote). Results Compared to pre-pandemic, children had significantly higher PSC-17 total scores (overall mental health symptoms) and THRIVE total scores (total burden of social risks) at all three mid-pandemic waves. Using longitudinal mixed models accounting for time, social risks, and school modality, both social risks (B = 0.37, SE = 0.14, p < 0.01) and school modality were significantly associated with PSC-17 scores (B = − 1.95, SE = 0.63, p < 0.01). Children attending in-person school had fewer mental health symptoms than those attending remote or hybrid school. Conclusion Mental health symptoms and social risks remained significantly higher fifteen months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prepandemic. In-person attendance at school appeared protective against persistently elevated mental health symptoms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00712-4Child mental healthSocial risk factorsMinority healthCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Rachel Oblath Rohan Dayal J. Krystel Loubeau Julia Lejeune Jennifer Sikov Meera Savage Catalina Posse Sonal Jain Nicole Zolli Tithi D. Baul Valeria Ladino Chelsea Ji Jessica Kabrt Lillian Sidky Megan Rabin Do Yoon Kim Imme Kobayashi J. Michael Murphy Arvin Garg Andrea E. Spencer Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Child mental health Social risk factors Minority health COVID-19 |
| title | Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study |
| title_full | Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study |
| title_short | Trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study |
| title_sort | trajectories and correlates of mental health among urban school age children during the covid 19 pandemic a longitudinal study |
| topic | Child mental health Social risk factors Minority health COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00712-4 |
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