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Steep rise in depressive symptoms among 7-12-year-olds during lockdown

The prevalence of depressive symptoms rose substantially among children during the first UK-wide lockdown, finds research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

The study provides the first longitudinal examination of changes in childhood mental health.

For the study, mental health assessments on 168 children (age, 7.6-11.6 years) were taken before and during the lockdown from April to June 2020. Assessments included self-reports, caregiver reports and teacher reports.

Mean mental health scores before and during the UK lockdown were compared.

The study revealed a significant increase in depression symptoms during the UK lockdown, as measured by the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) short form (0.74; 95% CI, 0.46-1.01), a 70 per cent chance that depressive symptoms worsened during lockdown in any child. Confidence intervals suggest a medium-to-large effect size.

There were no significant changes in the RCADS anxiety subscale and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire emotional problems subscale.

The scale of the effect on childhood mental health has direct relevance for the continuation of different elements of lockdown policy.

“This early evidence for the direct impact of lockdown must now be combined with larger scale epidemiological studies that establish which children are most at risk and tracks their future recovery,” the authors say.


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