ABSTRACT

Objective

The study explored the impacts of restrictions on the perceived psychological distress and health outcomes in children by their mothers who acted as their full-time caregivers during the pan-India lockdown after the outbreak of COVID-19.

Method

A narrative qualitative research design was used and a purposive heterogeneous sample of 20 mothers of children aged 9–11 years were chosen, who were in a full-time caregiving role. Data obtained through a telephonic semi-structured interview were analysed using Narrative Thematic Method.

Results

Four themes were generated: aberrant social responsivity and loneliness, decreased interest in regular activities, psychological distress and defiant emotional responses, and negative health outcomes. Anxiety, irritation, quarrelsome behaviours, anger, frustration, feeling low, reduced interest in games, boredom, etc. were reported in children. Decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, complaints of indigestion and multiple complaints of body aches were major negative health outcomes.

Conclusions

Mothers described a variety of psychological distress and health outcomes for children due to the extreme restrictions, uncertainty, apprehension, reduced positive engagement and lowered social connection after the outbreak of the pandemic. Family-, media-, school- and community-based real or virtual intervention programmes are recommended to minimize the negative impacts and to guard children against the ill-consequences of restrictions of current and future pandemics.

中文翻译：

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了解 COVID-19 大流行期间儿童的感知心理困扰和健康结果

摘要

客观的

该研究探讨了在 COVID-19 爆发后的泛印度封锁期间，作为全职看护人的母亲，限制措施对儿童感知到的心理困扰和健康结果的影响。

方法

使用叙述性定性研究设计，并选择了 20 名 9-11 岁儿童母亲的有目的的异质样本，她们担任全职照料角色。通过电话半结构化访谈获得的数据使用叙事主题法进行分析。

结果

产生了四个主题：异常的社会反应和孤独、对日常活动的兴趣下降、心理困扰和挑衅的情绪反应，以及负面的健康结果。据报告儿童出现焦虑、烦躁、争吵行为、愤怒、沮丧、情绪低落、对游戏的兴趣降低、无聊等。食欲下降、睡眠障碍、消化不良的抱怨和身体疼痛的多次抱怨是主要的负面健康结果。

结论

母亲们描述了由于大流行爆发后的极端限制、不确定性、忧虑、积极参与减少和社会联系减少而给儿童带来的各种心理困扰和健康结果。建议以家庭、媒体、学校和社区为基础的真实或虚拟干预计划，以尽量减少负面影响，并保护儿童免受当前和未来流行病限制措施的不良后果。