Impact beyond Daily Numbers: Impact of Covid- 19 Pandemic on Child Mental Health: An Egyptian Sample

Background: COVID- 19 pandemic struck China in December 2019 and then spread worldwide creating a global pandemic and still striking till now.

Although children are at lower risk for catching COVID- 19 infection with its health hazards, they are more vulnerable to its social and economic consequences caused by the lockdown. Children became forbidden from going out of their homes either to schools, social and sports activities, or even to play in the street. These consequences could affect their mental health (MH). Children may suffer from depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders.

The impact of COVID- 19 on children´s MH was not in focus in Egyptian literature

Objective: To determine the impact of COVID- 19 pandemic on child MH including daily life habits and behavior.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of Egyptian children aged between 6-18 years, who didn`t suffer from any MH problem before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The children`s MH was assessed through an online parents` questionnaire (Ontario COVID-19 Child MH and Addiction Survey) in September 2020, 6 months from the start of the pandemic in Egypt.

Results: There was an increase in household tension in 86% of the studied sample. The most common affected daily life habits were: increased consumed time in: online activities (86%), watching TV (84.6%), playing video games (80.1%), and decreased physical activity (79%).

The most common depressive and anxious symptoms found were: difficulty concentrating (69.9%), trouble sleeping (65.3%), drastic changes in mood (63.6%), decreased academic performance (55.6), changed eating habits, and extreme irritability (40.4% each).

Conclusion: COVID- 19 pandemic affected child MH. Daily life habits were changed. Behavior abnormalities were manifested by depressive and anxious symptoms. These results highlight the importance of promoting positive parenting and providing psychological support to children and their parents.