IMPACT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ON PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AMONG CHILDREN AGED 10 -17 YEARS

Dr. Thumjaa Annamalai, Dr. Vutukuru Pooja* and Dr. N. S. Raghupathy

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Due to the widespread outbreak of COVID-19, the lockdown was implemented and schools were shut down because of which the school going children psychological, emotional and physical status is getting affected. This study is done in children aged 10- 17 years to identify and recognize child's own emotions in this period and this study is not done anywhere up to our knowledge, it is done mainly to identify how social isolation, contact restriction and school shutdown, in the current pandemic can affect children emotional stress and psychological impact in children aged 10-17 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in 250 school children aged 10 -17 years in a school in Pondicherry by convenience sampling for 2 months .children who are fulfilling the inclusion criteria was included in this study, after obtaining parental consent and assent from children. The questionnaire was sent through Google forms through parents mail Id/ whats app and the children belong to that particular age group filled the forms. Once 250 responses were obtained and the data was compiled. Results: Among 250 children aged 10- 17 years in a school, in Pondicherry there were 56.4% females and 43.6% males. Regarding Parent-children psychosocial and emotional wellbeing before and during lockdown was significant in children spending time with their parents (P < 0.0001), Parents helping kids in their study was significant (P <0.0001), Children feel that their parents became very friendly and understandable during lockdown which was also significant (P <0.001), and children helping their parents in household chores during lockdown was also significant (P <0.0001). Regarding the daily activities in children aged 10-17 years, their screen time during lockdown was increased which was significant (P 0.0005), their physical activity before and during lockdown was the same which was not significant (P 0.0603), Sleeping time for 6 – 8 hours, studying alone and playing with peer groups during lockdown was decreased in all and was significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Children and adolescents are probably more likely to experience high rates of depression and most likely after enforced isolation ends. So these children should be offered preventive support and early intervention where possible psychological and supportive care should be given.

Keywords: 10-17 years, Covid-19 lockdown, Psychological, Emotional well being.