School Closures During Social Lockdown and Mental Health, Health Behaviors, and Well-being Among Children and Adolescents During the First COVID-19 Wave [jamanetwork.com]

By Russell Viner, Simon Russell, Rosella Saulle, et al., Photo: Unsplash, JAMA Pediatrics, January 18, 2022

Key Points

Question Is there an association between school closure during broader social lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health symptoms, health behaviors, and well-being of children and adolescents, aged 0 to 19 years?

Findings In this systematic review of 36 studies from 11 countries, school closures and social lockdown during the first COVID-19 wave were associated with adverse mental health symptoms (such as distress and anxiety) and health behaviors (such as higher screen time and lower physical activity) among children and adolescents. The effects of school closures could not be assessed separately from broader social lockdown measures.

Meaning The potential epidemiologic benefits of school closures during broader social lockdown measures for controlling infectious diseases should be balanced with the potential for adverse mental health symptoms and health behaviors among children and adolescents.

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