Less passive screen time, more structure better for kids' mental health
during pandemic

Date:
August 16, 2021
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
There are a number of simple, practical steps that families can take
- - including reducing passive screen time and news consumption,
having a structured daily schedule and getting enough sleep --
that can promote resilience against mental health problems in
youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== There are a number of simple, practical steps that families can take -
- including reducing passive screen time and news consumption, having a structured daily schedule and getting enough sleep -- that can promote resilience against mental health problems in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Maya Rosen of Harvard University, US, and colleagues.


==========================================================================
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented change into the lives
of children and adolescents. Many of these disruptions, coupled with
pandemic- related stressors, are likely to increase risk for depression, anxiety and behavioral problems in youth.

In the new study, researchers recruited participants from two ongoing longitudinal studies of children and adolescents in the greater Seattle
area.

224 youth and their caregivers completed an initial questionnaire
assessing social behaviors, psychopathology and pandemic-related stressors
in April and May 2020; 184 of these youth and their caregivers completed
a similar battery of assessments six months later, in November 2020
through January 2021. Since data on each youth was available from prior
to the pandemic, results at each time point could be controlled for pre-pandemic symptoms. The youth ranged in age from 7 to 15 years old,
were 47.8% female, and their racial and ethnic background reflected the
Seattle are, with 66% of participants White, 11% Black, 11% Asian and 8% Hispanic or Latino.

The number of pandemic-related stressors was strongly associated with
increases in both internalizing (b=0.345, p<0.001) and externalizing
(b=0.297, p<0.001) symptoms during the pandemic after controlling
for pre-pandemic symptoms. Early in the pandemic, youths who spent
less time on digital devices (b=0.272, p=.0004) as well as those who
consumed less than 2 hours of news per day (b=0.193, p=.010) had lower externalizing symptoms, while greater time spend in nature was marginally associated with lower internalizing symptoms (b=-0.124, p=.074). Getting
the recommended amount of sleep (b=0.-0.158, p=.080) and having a more structured daily routine during stay-at-home orders (b=-0.164, p=.049)
was associated with lower levels of externalizing psychopathology six
months later. Finally, the strong association between pandemic-related stressors and psychopathology was absent among children with lower
amounts of screen time and news media consumption. The authors write
that the study identifies a set of strategies that can be beneficial
to families when considering how to support the mental health of their
children during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The authors add: "Mental health problems increased dramatically among
children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among
those who experienced high levels of pandemic-related stressors including serious illness or death of a family member, significant financial loss,
and social isolation.

A number of simple strategies families engaged in appeared to promote
better mental health during the pandemic including having a structured
daily routine, limiting passive screen time use, limiting exposure
to news media about the pandemic, and to a lesser extent spending
more time in nature, and getting the recommended amount of sleep." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Maya L. Rosen, Alexandra M. Rodman, Steven W. Kasparek, Makeda
Mayes,
Malila M. Freeman, Liliana J. Lengua, Andrew N. Meltzoff, Katie A.

McLaughlin. Promoting youth mental health during the COVID-19
pandemic: A longitudinal study. PLOS ONE, 2021; 16 (8): e0255294
DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0255294 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210816102542.htm

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