The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Long Term Behavior Problems in Typically Developing Preschool Children in Turkey

Authors : Emel ÖMERCİOĞLU, Aysel HAJİYEVA, Ayşe METE YEŞİL, Pınar ZENGİN AKKUŞ, Elif N. ÖZMERT

Pages : 272-278

Doi:10.12956/tchd.1232315

View : 141 | Download : 161

Publication Date : 2023-07-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: Pandemics such as COVID 19, cause severe stress for both parents and children due to social constraints, changes in daily routines, and economic challenges, and can lead to long-term developmental and behavioral problems in children. We evaluated the behavioral problems of typically developing healthy children at the end of the second year of the pandemic, as well as the effect of family sociodemographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 28 children between the ages of 18 to 60 months who admitted to Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital between January and February 2022 and 23 children from the pre-pandemic period. All of the children scored normally on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ASQ); in all developmental domains. The Child Behavior Check List insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CBCL); was completed by parents. Results: In terms of family sociodemographic characteristics, no significant difference existed between the two groups. Anxiety-depression scores were significantly higher in the post-pandemic group once CBCL scores were assessed insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.047);. In the final stepwise multiple regression model, maternal education level was significantly associated with lower anxiety-depression scores insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.030);. It was revealed that a maternal education level above high school reduced the anxiety-depression scores by 2.53 points in the post-pandemic group. Conclusions: Families, pediatricians, and all other healthcare providers need to closely monitor preschoolers, who are among the groups most vulnerable to the negative effects of the pandemic. Additionally, new policies are required to eliminate health and social inequalities that deepen during the pandemic, especially in middle income and developing countries.
Keywords : covid 19, davranış sorunu, çocuk