Predictor factors affecting emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged (6-12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Zohreh Mahmoodi; Mahnoosh Rostami; Giti Bahrami; Fatemeh Rasouli; Nooshin Ghavidel

doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05125-9

Predictor factors affecting emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged (6-12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;23(1):633. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05125-9.

Authors

Zohreh Mahmoodi¹, Mahnoosh Rostami², Giti Bahrami¹, Fatemeh Rasouli³, Nooshin Ghavidel⁴

Affiliations

¹ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
² Health Systems Evaluation and Evidence, Provincial Clinical Excellence, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada.
³ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
⁴ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. ngh_med50@yahoo.com.

Abstract

Objectives: The prolonged outbreak of COVID-19 has caused psychological problems in the community, especially in children. Given that limited studies have been conducted on this vulnerable group in Iran, we conducted this study to determine the predictor factors affecting emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged (6-12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 322 mothers of elementary school-aged children (6-12 years) from April 21 to June 21, 2021, in Karaj, Alborz, Iran. Sociodemographic checklist, socioeconomic status scale (SES), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and the Rutter Children's Behavior Questionnaire (RCBQ) were used to evaluate the children's behavioral symptoms, the mental health of their mothers, and sociodemographic factors.

Results: In total, 17.7% of children (male = 27.0%, female = 11.7%) had behavioral problems. Results showed income (p-value = 0.007, 95%CI (-3.85- -0.607)), and physical activity of the child (p-value = 0.026, 95%CI (-1.03- -0.067)), were indirectly associated with children's behavioral symptoms. Having underlying disease (p-value = 0.00, 95%CI (1.712-5.949)), breastfeeding (p-value = 0.027, 95%CI (0.335-5.61)), corona-related anxiety (p-value = 0.00, 95%CI (0.158-0.318)), and DASS score (p-value = 0.00, 95%CI (0.149-0.334)) in the mothers, as well as male gender (p-value = 0.003, 95%CI (0.724-3.471)) were directly associated with children's behavioral symptoms. The most factors involved in the behavioral symptom score of children were corona-related anxiety (β = .298), DASS (β = 0.273), underlying disease of mothers (β = 0.163), income (β = -0.154), child's gender (β = 0.142) and physical activity (β = -0.101), and breastfeeding (β = 0.099) respectively.

Conclusion: Study findings showed that some factors affect the emotional and behavioral problems of school-aged (6-12 years) children during the COVID-19 pandemic. These data may help future researchers and policymakers with early intervention.

Keywords: Behavioral; COVID-19; Corona-related anxiety; Mental health; School-age children.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Problem Behavior*