Anxious Kids? Pandemic Lockdowns Could be to Blame

While for some of us, the COVID-19 pandemic may seem like a distant memory, most of us are still feeling the effects. That could mean grappling with continuing health problems or how to navigate risk. For many families, the lingering impacts of working from home, homeschooling, missing milestones and enforced separation from family have left an emotional scar. Now a new study predicts children and teens who vividly remember the COVID-19 lockdowns may continue to experience a decline in their mental well-being over time.

The researchers, Dr. Tiril Fiellhaugen Hjuler and Dr. Simona Ghetti, focused on how memories of the first lockdown in 2020 impacted young people's mental health a year later. “These are children reflecting on this important period of their life, a period that has touched every single child,” says researcher Dr. Simona Ghetti.

Girls are faring worse than boys

The study revealed that adolescent girls experienced the most significant decline in psychological well-being during and after the COVID-19 lockdowns. The research suggested that this group was more likely to internalize negative emotions and stress related to the pandemic, leading to a sharper decline. Memories filled with negative feelings and detailed facts about the pandemic were especially linked to the decline in mental health for these girls, highlighting the lasting impact of the lockdown experience on their psychological state.

One anecdotal explanation that Dr. Fiellhaugen Hjuler noticed in conversations with research participants was that during lockdowns, boys stayed connected with friends through video games, while many girls engaged with social media, which can involve competitive comparisons and may negatively affect mood, and development.

The toll of missed milestones

Dana Harder, an English teacher from London, Ontario, who teaches Grades 9 through 12 has seen firsthand the impact of the pandemic on children and adolescents' mental wellbeing. She says missing out on crucial life events coupled with isolation and excessive screen time has led to listlessness and even depression.

“Many [students] had a looming feeling of ennui, the world seemed to be collapsing just as they were gaining independence and autonomy. Take a pandemic, a climate emergency, global financial doom and gloom, and all the other chaos we see in society and of course, students' well-being suffers.”

Jamie Scrimgeour, a life coach and podcast host from Stratford, Ontario says that missing out on major adolescent milestones like prom and graduation had a psychological impact on her children that mirrored the findings of the study. “Emotionally, they really struggled. They increased their screen time to connect with peers, but ultimately this led to more anxiety.”

How parents can help kids manage their emotions

The long-term psychological effects are likely to be shaped not just by past experiences, but also by the current and evolving challenges related to the pandemic. In light of this, the study authors advise that fostering open, supportive conversations about our memories of this time can help children process their experiences and manage ongoing stress.

“Reminiscing about the past is really a social event. Children learn to remember…when it comes to remembering meaningful events, autobiographical events, conversations with parents are foundational,” says Dr. Simona Ghetti. “The way parents talk with their children about the past really shapes the way children think about it, construe their personal narratives, and build their sense of identity.”

Parents can do this by asking lots of open-ended questions and encouraging kids to talk about how they felt rather than just recalling details about past events.

That would include Scrimgeour recalling not only the hard times of the pandemic with her children but also those moments of family connection amid the uncertainty and fear. Like fun karaoke sessions at home, playing ice hockey, or snuggling up together around the firepit to eat smores. “We were able to spend a lot of time together as a family. It gave us permission to slow down,” she says.

By addressing both the past and ongoing challenges with empathy and understanding, we can better support our children in navigating the lasting effects of the pandemic and promote their mental well-being moving forward.