Child Mental Health During the First and Second Wave By COVID-19 According to Sociodemographic Indicators in Peru

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the state of children's mental health in the context of the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. This involves describing prevalent behavioral and emotional functioning and comparing clinical and adaptive indicators according to sociodemographic variables such as gender and family type. The study was designed as a descriptive comparative cross-sectional cohort study. The sample was intentionally and non-probabilistically selected and included 485 Peruvian children aged 3 to 13 years (M = 7.52, SD = 2.37). For the analysis of children's mental health symptomatology, the sample was divided into three groups based on their school level, resulting in the following distribution: Sample 1 (P1): Included 134 children in early education, where 50.75% were female (n=68) and 58.21% came from nuclear families. Sample 2 (P2): Comprised 146 children in 1st and 2nd grade of primary school, where 54.79% were male (n=80) and 60.96% came from nuclear families. Sample 3 (S2, self-report): Consisted of 205 children in 3rd to 6th grade of primary school, where 54.63% were female (n=112) and 53.66% came from nuclear families. For the evaluation of children's mental health, the Behavioural Assessment System for Children and Adolescents (BASC) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were used. During the pandemic, a higher prevalence of adaptive indicators in children was found, including social skills, adaptability, and positive relationships with parents and peers. Clinical indicators such as attention problems and anxiety were also observed. When considering sociodemographic variables, males exhibited higher clinical indicators. Regarding family type, nuclear families showed greater adaptive indicators, while extended families exhibited more clinical indicators. In conclusion, Peruvian children aged 3 to 13 years presented higher adaptive indicators than clinical indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to consider that children's mental health may vary according to sociodemographic factors, such as sex and type of family. However, it is crucial to recognize that these results are specific to the studied sample and context, and that children's mental health is influenced by various cultural and context-specific factors.