BACKGROUND Despite being necessary to delay the spread of COVID-19, home confinement could have affected the emotional well-being of children and adolescents. Knowing which variables are involved in anxiety and depressive symptoms could help to prevent young people's psychological problems related to lockdown as early as possible. This cross-sectional study aims to examine anxiety and depressive symptomatology in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese children and adolescents in order to determine which variables are related to poorer well-being during the pandemic. METHOD The parents of 515 children, aged 3-18 years old, completed an online survey. Children's anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Version, and depressive symptoms were measured with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-Parent Version. RESULTS We found differences in anxiety and depression between countries, with higher anxiety scores in Spanish children, and higher depression scores in Spanish and Italian children compared to the Portuguese. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were more likely in children whose parents reported higher levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS These findings are discussed in the light of detecting and supporting affected children as early as possible.

中文翻译：

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儿童和青少年在COVID-19大流行期间的焦虑和抑郁症状：一种跨文化方法。

背景技术尽管有必要延迟COVID-19的传播，但家庭禁闭可能会影响儿童和青少年的情感健康。知道哪些变量与焦虑和抑郁症状有关，可以帮助预防年轻人与锁定有关的心理问题。这项横断面研究旨在检查意大利，西班牙和葡萄牙儿童和青少年的焦虑症和抑郁症状，以确定哪些变量与大流行期间的较差幸福感有关。方法515名3-18岁儿童的父母完成了一项在线调查。使用Spence儿童焦虑量表-父母版评估了儿童的焦虑症状，抑郁和抑郁症状的评估采用了“简短情绪和情感问卷-家长”版本。结果我们发现国家之间的焦虑和抑郁差异，与葡萄牙人相比，西班牙儿童的焦虑评分较高，西班牙和意大利儿童的抑郁评分较高。父母报告压力较高的儿童更容易出现焦虑和抑郁症状。结论鉴于尽早发现并支持受影响的儿童，对这些发现进行了讨论。父母报告压力较高的儿童更容易出现焦虑和抑郁症状。结论鉴于尽早发现并支持受影响的儿童，对这些发现进行了讨论。父母报告压力较高的儿童更容易出现焦虑和抑郁症状。结论鉴于尽早发现并支持受影响的儿童，对这些发现进行了讨论。