Socio‐economic disparities in the psychosocial and economic impacts of the COVID ‐19 pandemic on children and young people in Australia
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: AIMS: While COVID-19 no longer presents a global health emergency, the indirect (non-infection) impacts of the pandemic may exacerbate health inequalities in years to come. We examined the socio-economic distribution of the impacts of the pandemic on the psychosocial and economic well-being of children, young people and their families. METHODS: The CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) was conducted in seven existing longitudinal cohorts, together involving n = 3072 participants aged 0-19 years. Online surveys were conducted from May 2020-April 2021, during periods of low infection but stringent public health measures in Victoria, Australia. Analysed CRISIS domains included: COVID-19-related worries, mood state, economic difficulties and positive life changes. Social disadvantage of each sample was characterised by pre-pandemic maternal education, unemployment, income and neighbourhood disadvantage, avoiding cross-sectional data limitations. The proportion of children experiencing each type of pandemic impact was estimated within each cohort. RESULTS: Substantial socio-economic disparities were observed. COVID-19-related worries were 22 percentage points higher in the most (24.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 19.4-29.1) versus least (2.9%, 95% CI 1-4.7) disadvantaged cohorts. Similar patterns were noted for negative mood state (19.4%, 95% CI 15-23.9 vs. 3.6%, 95% CI 1.6-5.6), economic difficulties (18.5%, 95% CI 14.2-22.9 vs. 5.7%, 95% CI 3.3-8.1) and lower levels of positive life changes (63.7%, 95% CI 58.3-69.1 vs. 83.2%, 95% CI 78.9-87.4). CONCLUSIONS: Indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic showed significant disparities across populations experiencing different socio-economic conditions. The pandemic offers a unique opportunity to rethink and redesign policies and services to achieve greater equity now and better preparedness for global crises in future.
DOI: 10.1111/jpc.16737
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, University of Otago, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Deakin University, University of Melbourne, Department of Health, State Government of Victoria, State Government of Victoria, Western Sydney University, Vincent Chiodo Charitable Foundation, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Morgan Stanley
Awards: Turning points: breaking intergenerational cycles of intimate partner abuse and social adversity, G8415457339, Maternal Health Study (phase 2), Women's health after childbirth, Uncovering the hidden impacts and costs of exposure to intimate partner violence in childhood: a 20-year cohort study
OpenAlex ID: W4405783531