Corona: Psychological consequences for children and adolescents

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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The coronavirus pandemic has also significantly shaken the lives and everyday lives of children and adolescents. Above all, a large part of their social contact options have broken down due to the restrictions - daycare or school, sports club, choir, club visits. In addition, there are stressed, worried, and perhaps irritated parents who are burdening the situation.

Children and young people are also often afraid for their parents and grandparents. And although they very rarely get seriously ill with a Sars-CoV-2 infection, some of them also fear for their own health.

All of this means a great emotional burden for children and adolescents during the pandemic - and it is not without consequences: mental complaints have increased significantly for them during the pandemic. Around 77 percent were more stressed than before during the first and second lockdowns, according to a survey of 1,000 children and adolescents and their parents. About a third of them reacted with behavioral and mental disorders.

Social background also determines the emotional consequences

Children who grow up in a stable home and receive help from their parents have mostly got through the pandemic well so far.

Young people from socially disadvantaged families, however, have often fared less well: They have fewer opportunities to retreat due to their small apartments. Not all of these children own laptops and similar devices that are necessary for digital learning.

Socially disadvantaged parents are also less able to support their offspring in homeschooling because they usually have jobs that cannot be done in the home office - or they often lack the necessary training. All of this means an additional emotional burden for affected children and adolescents.

But the hardest hit are those minors who are exposed to lovelessness or abuse during lockdown. You have no more opportunities to retreat. The consequences of abuse are no longer apparent due to a lack of contact.

Symptoms

How are the psychological effects expressed?

• Fears: Experts note above all that fears have increased among children and adolescents.
• Depressed mood: If the fears persist, it can turn into a depressed mood, with depressed mood, withdrawal and loss of interests and joy.
• Behavioral Disorders: Some children and adolescents react with behavioral disorders such as hyperactivity and aggressiveness.
• Psychosomatic symptoms: Some offspring experience psychosomatic symptoms such as stomach ache or headache.
• Eating disorders: In the corona year, the number of adolescents being treated for an eating disorder increased.
• Sleep disorders: Another common consequence of emotional stress is sleep disorders. Parents observe problems falling and staying asleep even in the youngest.
• Weight gain: Although not a mental disorder, it can exacerbate existing mental health problems.

It is still unclear whether there will be long-term effects of the corona pandemic on the general development of children and adolescents.

causes

Worries, leveraged routines, and direct burdens from lockdown such as problems with distance learning, parents' financial worries, and social isolation create stress and anxiety. Both are the main triggers for psychological complaints and illnesses.

However, other reasons for a deterioration in the mental state of children and adolescents are also physical - for example poor nutrition and too little exercise. Up to 40 percent of the children and adolescents were no longer active in the lockdown because there were no sports clubs or leisure activities.

Coping tips - what helps?

There are a number of factors that will help you stay emotionally stable in the pandemic. They are good for children and young people as well as adults.

Structure: Humans are creatures of habit. A life without routine is both stressful and paralyzing. So structure your day and that of your children, especially in Corona times: When is learning, when is there free time? When do you eat and when is there a small sports program? And when and for how long is media consumed? To do this, create a plan together with your children.

Exercise: Speaking of the sports program: Exercise is a natural stress killer. Those who exhaust themselves break down stress hormones. Afterwards, the mood climbed several points up the satisfaction scale. Take family walks, for example. If children are bored, they can be spiced up with games like "I see what you don't see."

Relaxation exercises: Where there is relaxation, there is no place for fear. You can also learn to relax - this already applies to kindergarten children. Mindfulness exercises, progressive muscle relaxation or imaginary journeys are child's play with age-appropriate guidance.

Joint activities: During the pandemic, many families have rediscovered joint activities for themselves. Board games, singing, handicrafts and cooking together are also fun for the little ones. The latter especially when everyone can decide what to put on the table.

Suggestion box hour: You should also plan time for conversations in which you ask your children how they are doing and what may be particularly stressful for them at the moment. Together, think about what can be done if necessary to make the child feel better again.

Encouraging positive thoughts: There is always bad news in the pandemic. The little ones notice that too - and the big ones even more. Instead of getting too dragged down by negative feelings, you can focus your attention on positive things. For example in an evening ritual: three things that were beautiful that day. Or talk about experiences like the last visit to the zoo, which was so beautiful.

Explain what's going on: Children notice when their parents are concerned - and they are less afraid when they understand why some things are currently not possible. Explain to your child in simple terms why they cannot go to daycare at the moment or why everyone is wearing a face mask.

Promote social contacts: Social media and video chats cannot replace real encounters. But they help to bridge the gap. Maybe hold family chats with people you rarely see otherwise. Encourage your child to keep in touch with their friends. It is also fun to send each other a postcard or a small gift in the same way.

Be a role model: Take the tips to heart. The more calmly and confidently you deal with the situation, the better your children will get along. And then you are also a good role model.

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