COVID-19 and nervousness in younger youngsters

Psychologists studied the anxiety states in young children caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is normal for children to be afraid when they experience change. Studies have shown that during times without a pandemic, up to 15.7% of teenagers and 2.7% of toddlers have symptoms of health-related anxiety. But in the midst of a global pandemic, how can parents know when young children's anxiety has gone beyond the norm and when to seek professional help?

University of Bath researchers recently conducted a review study to better understand the assessment and management of health-related anxiety in young children that may be due to COVID-19. Their results were published in the Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy Journal.

Understanding anxiety in young children can be difficult because of the different stages of development. At a time when a young child may already instinctively turn to their parents for reassurance, it can be difficult to know if that fear needs medical attention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these concerns can escalate to the point where typical daily activities are affected.

Because anxiety in young children is very different from anxiety in adolescents, the study separated the two groups when possible. For the same reason, the researchers grouped the results into those related to individual factors and those that might be related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diagnosing anxiety in young children can be difficult. A child with anxiety will often have other anxiety disorders, so it is important that an accurate diagnosis be made. The researchers found that a combination of interviews with the child and parents, self-assessment questionnaires, and observation by medical staff were the best ways to diagnose anxiety in young children.

There aren't many specific treatments for anxiety in young children. One successful treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT tries to reduce the stress children experience, limit safety-seeking behaviors, and explain signs that children may interpret as symptoms of concern.

The researchers note that in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is normal for children to experience health-related anxiety. However, methods of diagnosis and treatment are available for children with debilitating health fears.

In a press release, Dr. Maria Lodes from the Department of Psychology at Bath University: “When children and young people return to school, they must have the opportunity to catch up not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. A big part of this is having the time and space to playfully connect with each other, which gives them the opportunity to process the emotions and share their experiences with others. It will take time for children and adolescents to adapt. While we want to avoid pathologizing normal responses to the pandemic, especially among children and adolescents, it is important to identify the signs and act early. She concluded, “We all need to work together to ensure that children and young people can enjoy their lives to the full.”

Written by: Rebecca K. Blankenship, B.Sc.

Reference:

1. Haig-Ferguson A., Cooper K., Cartwright E., Loades M., Daniels J. Practitioner Review: Health Fear in Children and Adolescents in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Behav Cogn Psychother. 2020: 1-34. doi: 10.1017 / s1352465820000636

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