Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait
IntroductionInvestigating the epidemiology of mental health disorders resulting from COVID-19 intervention measures, primary school closures, and social isolation in children and adolescents needs to be prioritized over adults at the post-pandemic stage. Most preliminary psychosocial studies conduct...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322745/full |
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| author | Bibi Alamiri Moh A. Alkhamis Ahmed Naguy Hend F. Alenezi Muna Al Shekaili |
| author_facet | Bibi Alamiri Moh A. Alkhamis Ahmed Naguy Hend F. Alenezi Muna Al Shekaili |
| author_sort | Bibi Alamiri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionInvestigating the epidemiology of mental health disorders resulting from COVID-19 intervention measures, primary school closures, and social isolation in children and adolescents needs to be prioritized over adults at the post-pandemic stage. Most preliminary psychosocial studies conducted during the pandemic have demonstrated that younger age groups are the most vulnerable to such implications. Thus, this study aims to estimate the probable prevalence of specific anxiety disorders in children and quantify their relationships with relevant demographic risk factors.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional study comprising 430 children aged between 8- and 18 years old living in Kuwait during the period of school closures as well as full and partial lockdowns. The survey included questions about participants’ characteristics, children's anxiety using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Questionnaire (SCARED) scale, and children's emotions and behaviours using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to summarize the demographic and characteristics of the participants and their association with general, social, and generalized anxieties, as well as behavioural and emotional difficulties. ResultsWe inferred that 24.83% of our participants had at least one anxiety disorder, while 20.19% were classified as abnormal on the SDQ scale. Our multivariate analysis revealed that lockdown duration and sex of the child were consistently significant predictors (p-values < 0.05) of the broad spectrum of selected mental disorders. Additionally, we inferred notable increases in the likelihood of mental disorders associated with the increased duration of lockdowns. ConclusionsOur findings revealed preliminary insights into the vulnerability of young populations to the indirect negative impacts of strict public health measures during pandemic emergencies. Thus, authorities should consider such implications when planning and implementing similar interventions in future pandemics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:24:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2e0924013a3433dbac04bf6de44562f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:24:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2e0924013a3433dbac04bf6de44562f2024-02-12T04:33:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-02-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.13227451322745Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in KuwaitBibi Alamiri0Moh A. Alkhamis1Ahmed Naguy2Hend F. Alenezi3Muna Al Shekaili4Almanara, Kuwait Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitAlmanara, Kuwait Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, KuwaitGeneral Adult Psychiatry Department, Kuwait Center for Mental Health, Kuwait City, KuwaitMinistry of Health, Almassarh Hospital, Muscat, OmanIntroductionInvestigating the epidemiology of mental health disorders resulting from COVID-19 intervention measures, primary school closures, and social isolation in children and adolescents needs to be prioritized over adults at the post-pandemic stage. Most preliminary psychosocial studies conducted during the pandemic have demonstrated that younger age groups are the most vulnerable to such implications. Thus, this study aims to estimate the probable prevalence of specific anxiety disorders in children and quantify their relationships with relevant demographic risk factors.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional study comprising 430 children aged between 8- and 18 years old living in Kuwait during the period of school closures as well as full and partial lockdowns. The survey included questions about participants’ characteristics, children's anxiety using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Questionnaire (SCARED) scale, and children's emotions and behaviours using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to summarize the demographic and characteristics of the participants and their association with general, social, and generalized anxieties, as well as behavioural and emotional difficulties. ResultsWe inferred that 24.83% of our participants had at least one anxiety disorder, while 20.19% were classified as abnormal on the SDQ scale. Our multivariate analysis revealed that lockdown duration and sex of the child were consistently significant predictors (p-values < 0.05) of the broad spectrum of selected mental disorders. Additionally, we inferred notable increases in the likelihood of mental disorders associated with the increased duration of lockdowns. ConclusionsOur findings revealed preliminary insights into the vulnerability of young populations to the indirect negative impacts of strict public health measures during pandemic emergencies. Thus, authorities should consider such implications when planning and implementing similar interventions in future pandemics. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322745/fullanxietymental healthpandemicchildrenCOVID-19lockdowns |
| spellingShingle | Bibi Alamiri Moh A. Alkhamis Ahmed Naguy Hend F. Alenezi Muna Al Shekaili Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait Frontiers in Psychiatry anxiety mental health pandemic children COVID-19 lockdowns |
| title | Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait |
| title_full | Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait |
| title_fullStr | Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait |
| title_short | Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait |
| title_sort | anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during covid 19 lockdowns and school closures a cross sectional study in kuwait |
| topic | anxiety mental health pandemic children COVID-19 lockdowns |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322745/full |
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