Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The health crisis caused by COVID-19 led to a series of restrictive measures worldwide. Amongst them, a period of lockdown that resulted in a decrease in social contact, which had a series of effects at the emotional, educational, and social levels, the greatest concern being the mental health effects in minors. The aim of this study is to analyse mental health disorders affecting Primary Education students before and during the pandemic, at emotional, social and behavioural levels. A total of 1045 students from different educational centres, in 5th and 6th year of Primary Education, of both sexes and aged between 10 and 12 years old, took part in the study. The instrument used was the “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ”, which measures mental health disorders in minors. The results indicate that during the pandemic there was an increase in emotional problems among minors, alongside a decrease in hyperactivity, conduct problems, and peer-related problems. Social distancing during the pandemic may have acted as a key mediating variable in the observed outcomes. It is concluded that these results are important in preventing psychological effects on the mental health of minors in crisis situations.
Source: COVID
DOI: 10.3390/covid5110189
Institution: Universidad de Extremadura
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
Award: G5822759937
OpenAlex ID: W4415815392