Nearly a third of children and adolescents had more difficulty falling asleep after the first containment introduced in spring 2020 to fight the pandemic, according to a study published by Public Health France, Thursday, May 20.
30% of 13-18 year olds and 27.2% of 9-12 year olds questioned evoke an increase in these difficulties in the survey, which focuses on the mental health of children and adolescents during the first confinement in France. The study was conducted between June 9 and September 14, 2020 with 3,900 children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 and their parents, with two separate questionnaires on their experiences during confinement (one for young people, one for the parents).
13-18 year olds “Seemed to have a more impacted mental health compared to the youngest” : in addition to difficulty falling asleep, 12.5% of teens had more nightmares, 18.3% had more nocturnal awakenings and 27% said they were more tired in the morning, while 25.1% said they ate more often. These proportions are respectively 9.5%, 11.4%, 10.5% and 12.5% for children aged 9 to 12.
In this younger category, on the other hand, many felt much less relaxed (29.1%) and less happy (26.4%).
Girls’ mental health more impacted, according to study
The survey also highlights more severe psychological symptoms, even if they remain rarer: increased sadness (7% of teenagers and 2.2% of children), nervousness (13.1% and 5.2% ) or significant fear (5.2% and 4.6%).
The study also shows that “Girls seemed to have a more impacted mental health than boys” : For example, they were nearly three times more concerned by the increase in nightmares and twice as much by the fact of overeating.
The children and adolescents most affected by these symptoms of psychological distress were generally those “Exposed to more difficult living conditions” They were more confined to urban areas, to housing without a garden or balcony, to overcrowded housing, where they could not be isolated, or without an Internet connection. They also lived more often in single-parent families, with parents with little education, born abroad and experiencing financial difficulties.
“A lack of activities, an increase in time spent on social networks and screens, a feeling of being overwhelmed with regard to school work, the infection with Covid-19 of a loved one and hospitalization following the Covid-19 were also linked to distress ”, describes the author of the study. Conversely, social support and exercise during confinement were associated with a higher resilience score.