Ehrler Melanie, Werninger Isabelle, Schnider Barbara, Eichelberger Dominique A, Naef Nadja, Disselhoff Vera, Kretschmar Oliver, Hagmann Cornelia F, Latal Beatrice, Wehrle Flavia M
Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Acta Paediatr. 2021 Apr;110(4):1281-1288. doi: 10.1111/apa.15775. Epub 2021 Feb 9.
To examine how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts child well-being and family functioning, particularly among children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments.
Families of 73 typically developing children, 54 children born very preterm (VPT) and 73 children with congenital heart disease (CHD) from two prospective cohort studies were assessed prior to (mean age: 10.4 [SD: 1.2] years) and during (mean age: 12.8 [SD: 2.0] years) the pandemic, more specifically, in April/May 2020. Child well-being and family functioning were assessed with validated, parent-reported questionnaires and tested with linear mixed models. Group comparison of child distress and parental concerns related to medical implications of COVID-19 and homeschooling, assessed with 5-point Likert scales, was done with Mann-Whitney U tests.
Children's psychological well-being and family functioning (both, p < 0.001) decreased significantly during the pandemic, irrespective of group. Children with CHD were reported to be more concerned about becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 than were others. Child distress due to homeschooling and parents' concerns about children's academic achievements were significantly higher in VPT and CHD children than in typically developing peers (all p < 0.001).
The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacts the whole family and leads to additional distress in families with children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. These families should receive individualised counselling and assistance from healthcare providers and schools during the pandemic.
研究持续的新冠疫情如何影响儿童福祉和家庭功能，尤其是对有神经发育障碍风险的儿童。
对来自两项前瞻性队列研究的73名发育正常儿童、54名极早产儿和73名先天性心脏病患儿的家庭，在疫情之前（平均年龄：10.4[标准差：1.2]岁）和疫情期间（平均年龄：12.8[标准差：2.0]岁），更具体地说是在2020年4月/5月进行评估。使用经过验证的家长报告问卷评估儿童福祉和家庭功能，并采用线性混合模型进行测试。使用曼-惠特尼U检验对与新冠疫情的医学影响和在家上学相关的儿童困扰和家长担忧进行组间比较（采用5分量表评估）。
疫情期间，无论组别如何，儿童的心理健康和家庭功能均显著下降（均为p<0.001）。据报告，先天性心脏病患儿比其他儿童更担心感染新冠病毒。极早产儿和先天性心脏病患儿因在家上学而产生的困扰以及家长对孩子学业成绩的担忧，显著高于发育正常的同龄人（均为p<0.001）。
新冠疫情对整个家庭产生了重大影响，并给有神经发育障碍风险儿童的家庭带来了额外困扰。在疫情期间，这些家庭应获得医疗服务提供者和学校提供的个性化咨询和帮助。
