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. 2023 Jul;32(7):1151-1177.
doi: 10.1007/s00787-021-01856-w. Epub 2021 Aug 18.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on child and adolescent mental health: systematic review

Urvashi Panchal  1 , Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo  2   3   4   5 , Macarena Franco  6 , Carmen Moreno  7 , Mara Parellada  7 , Celso Arango  7 , Paolo Fusar-Poli  8   9   10   11
Affiliations

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on child and adolescent mental health: systematic review

Urvashi Panchal et al. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, resulting in many countries worldwide calling for lockdowns. This study aimed to review the existing literature on the effects of the lockdown measures established as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. Embase, Ovid, Global Health, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and pre-print databases were searched in this PRISMA-compliant systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42021225604). We included individual studies reporting on a wide range of mental health outcomes, including risk and protective factors, conducted in children and adolescents (aged ≤ 19 years), exposed to COVID-19 lockdown. Data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted by independent researchers, and results were synthesised by core themes. 61 articles with 54,999 children and adolescents were included (mean age = 11.3 years, 49.7% female). Anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms were common in the included studies and ranged 1.8-49.5% and 2.2-63.8%, respectively. Irritability (range = 16.7-73.2%) and anger (range = 30.0-51.3%), were also frequently reported by children and adolescents. Special needs and the presence of mental disorders before the lockdown, alongside excessive media exposure, were significant risk factors for anxiety. Parent-child communication was protective for anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in psychological distress and highlighted vulnerable groups such as those with previous or current mental health difficulties. Supporting the mental health needs of children and adolescents at risk is key. Clinical guidelines to alleviate the negative effects of COVID-19 lockdown and public health strategies to support this population need to be developed.

Keywords: Adolescents; COVID-19; Children; Coronavirus; Lockdown; Mental health; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Salazar de Pablo has received honoraria from Janssen Cilag. Dr. Moreno has been a consultant to or has received honoraria from Janssen, Angelini, Servier, Nuvelution, Otsuka, Lundbeck and Esteve outside the submitted work. Prof Arango has been a consultant to or has received honoraria or grants from Acadia, Angelini, Gedeon Richter, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Roche, Sage, Servier, Shire, Schering Plough, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Sunovion and Takeda. Prof Fusar-Poli has received research fees from Lundbeck and honoraria from Lundbeck, Angelini, Menarini and Boehringer Ingelheim outside the current study. Dr. Parellada has been a consultant to or has received honoraria from Janssen, Exeltis, Servier and Lundbeck.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk and protective factors for anxiety symptoms/ affective symptoms in children and adolescents. This diagram refers to the risk and protective factors that are mentioned more than once within included studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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