Distance learning, technological devices, lifestyle and behavior of children and their family during the COVID-19 lockdown in Lombardy: a survey.
TL;DR: In this paper, a cross-sectional study was conducted on a large group of children between 1 and 10 years old in Lombardy, Italy (n = 3392), their parents filled in a survey answering single or multiple-choice questions about their offspring's behavior changes (including sleep, dietary habits, emotional disturbances), relationship with siblings, parents and peers, the use of digital technologies, and distance learning experience during the lockdown.
Abstract: Background The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent national lockdowns, school closures and distance learning may have had both negative and positive effects on physical and mental health of children. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on a large group of children between 1 and 10 years old in Lombardy, Italy (n = 3392). Their parents filled in a survey answering single or multiple-choice questions about their offspring's behavior changes (including sleep, dietary habits, emotional disturbances), relationship with siblings, parents and peers, the use of digital technologies, and distance learning experience during the lockdown. Results Parents reported lifestyles and emotional alterations during the lockdown. The modifications of family relationships, parents' remote working, and screen time were associated with sleep, emotional and behavioral modifications. Distance learning was overall considered adequate. Conclusions This study reported the most updated data on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on children between 1 and 10 years of age in a large sample of Italian schoolchildren. The results of this study point out that pediatricians and authorities should support relationships within families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents' remote working might play an important role for this purpose.
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TL;DR: This preliminary study shows that only about half of the interviewed parents of children and adolescents with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection are willing to vaccinate them to prevent a repeated COVID-19 infection.
Abstract: Background Limited data are available on the attitudes of caregivers toward COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or Long Covid symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children and adolescents with a documented history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to explore the possible associations between COVID-19 manifestations and the acceptance of the vaccine. Methods Caregivers of children or adolescents with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection evaluated in two University Hospitals were interviewed. Results We were able to contact 132 caregivers and 9 declined to participate. 68 caregivers (56%) were in favor of COVID-19 vaccination for their child. In the multiple logistic regression, child's age (OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.06–1.28) and hospitalization due to COVID-19 (OR 3.25, 95%CI 1.06–9.95) were positively associated with being in favor of COVID-19 vaccination. On the contrary, the occurrence of child's Long Covid was associated with a higher likelihood of being against the vaccination (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.10–0.80). Conclusions This preliminary study shows that only about half of the interviewed parents of children and adolescents with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection are willing to vaccinate them to prevent a repeated COVID-19 infection. These findings might help healthcare workers to provide tailored information to caregivers of children with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.
14 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that increasing efforts are necessary to provide evidence-based tailored information to caregivers and to promote vaccination in this pediatric age group, as well as to help ending the pandemic by enhancing community protection.
Abstract: The impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the pediatric population is increasingly recognized. A widespread vaccination in childhood would provide benefits for children and might help ending the pandemic by enhancing community protection. Following recent approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) for children aged 5–11 years, we aimed to investigate caregivers' intention to vaccinate their children <12 years of age against COVID-19. A structured questionnaire was administered to caregivers of children aged <12 years visiting the Emergency Department or the outpatient clinics in three major hospitals of Milan, Italy, from 20 September to 17 October 2021. A total of 612 caregivers were invited to participate and 604 accepted (response rate >98%). Three questionnaires were excluded due to compiling errors and 601 were included in the analysis. A total of 311 (51.7%) caregivers stated they would have their child vaccinated, 138 (23%) would refuse to vaccinate their child and 152 (25.3%) were unsure. The intention to vaccinate the child was higher in caregivers vaccinated against COVID-19, in those with a bachelor's degree or higher level of education, and in those with friends/acquaintances who became ill or died due to COVID-19. This study shows that increasing efforts are necessary to provide evidence-based tailored information to caregivers and to promote vaccination in this pediatric age group.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors track changes in the indicators of speed and strength abilities of children aged 12-13 years during the year in the conditions of mixed and distance learning and find that there is a significant decrease in physical activity of children.
Abstract: Prerequisites and purpose of education. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unusual conditions for physical education teachers to work with schoolchildren. Children are forced to spend some time at home, which reduces the time for physical activity. The aim of the work is to track changes in the indicators of speed and strength abilities of children aged 12-13 years during the year in the conditions of mixed and distance learning.
Material and methods. Schoolchildren aged 12-13 years took part in the study (Kharkiv, Ukraine; n=31; boys - n=16; girls - n=15). Parental consent was obtained for their children's participation in the study. The following tests were used: “30 meter sprint test, sec.”; “60 meter sprint test, sec.”; “Standing Long Jump Test (Broad Jump), cm”; "Long jump, cm". Assessment of schoolchildren’s speed and strength abilities was conducted at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year and repeated data – at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The obtained results were analyzed by methods of mathematical statistics: correlation analysis was conducted to identify relationships between the results of control standards of schoolchildren, the reliability of the difference was determined by the Student's criterion.
Results. There is a significant decrease in physical activity of children. Trends to reduce the level of development of speed and strength abilities of schoolchildren for the 2020-2021 school year have been identified. There are high and medium correlations between speed and power tests.
Conclusions. It is recommended to reduce the number of mandatory control standards in the school of choice between: "30 meter sprint test" - "60 meter sprint test"; “Standing Long Jump Test (Broad Jump)” - “Long jump”.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors present the results of an analysis of the implementation of distance learning during the closure of primary schools in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic.
Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic and its associated limitations represent one of the greatest challenges of our age. This is also true of the constraints on education and schooling. Closed schools have brought about a strong attachment of students to screens of electronic devices. Many teachers have been looking for ways to change this situation, and one way to make such a change is through outdoor education. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the implementation of distance learning during the closure of primary schools in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic. Using a sample of teachers (N = 152) from a representative number of primary schools, it reflects on their experience with distance learning and emphasises the possible inclusion of outdoor learning elements. It also explores teachers' perceptions of the benefits and barriers to outdoor learning. Distance learning was very challenging for teachers, who often limited themselves to core curriculum and neglected the cultivating role of the school. For many teachers, distance learning was also a way to enhance their teaching skills and deepen their collaboration with colleagues. Teachers who had already had experience of outdoor learning before the school closure were more likely to incorporate it in distance learning. They also perceived outdoor education more positively and did not see its obstacles as insurmountable. For a positive shift, it was sufficient to implement outdoor learning only a few times per term. Therefore, in order to incorporate elements of outdoor learning into distance learning more frequently, it is advisable to implement this educational approach regularly in traditional teaching, to get to know it and to gain confidence in its implementation.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors reviewed existing evidence of the pandemic's impact on the emotional regulation of Italian children aged 0-12 years in order to identify personal and contextual factors that may adversely impact their developmental process.
Abstract: Several studies underlined the negative effects of forced social isolation on emotional processes in younger population. The current study aimed to review existing evidence of the pandemic’s impact on the emotional regulation of Italian children aged 0–12 years in order to identify personal and contextual factors that may adversely impact their developmental process. Different electronic databases (Web of Science, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Scopus) were used to identify peer-reviewed studies published in English and Italian. Thirteen studies were included in the review, covering a total of 18.843 children. All studies reported negative effects of the lockdown on a child’s emotional processes. The most affected were children aged 3–5 years, those living in Northern Italy, and those with low socioeconomic status (SES) families. Alterations in emotional processes were associated with sleep disturbances, quality of family relationships, personality structures, the coping strategies used, and time spent with technological devices. Finally, two- (time × parenting) and three-way (time × parenting × environmental sensitivity) interactions resulted significantly in predicting a child’s emotional regulation, respectively, in terms of externalizing and internalizing behaviors. This review remarks that children’s emotional processes were negatively impacted during social lockdown, especially where acute social isolation interacted with a set of dispositional and situational risk factors.
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TL;DR: Mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre-COVID-19 trends by late April, 2020, and policies emphasising the needs of women, young people and those with preschool aged children are likely to play an important part in preventing future mental illness.
1,636 citations
TL;DR: This article has been published in English before [1]
866 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that youths with obesity, when removed from structured school activities and confined to their homes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic will display unfavorable trends in lifestyle behaviors.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that youths with obesity, when removed from structured school activities and confined to their homes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, will display unfavorable trends in lifestyle behaviors. METHODS: The sample included 41 children and adolescents with obesity participating in a longitudinal observational study located in Verona, Italy. Lifestyle information including diet, activity, and sleep behaviors was collected at baseline and 3 weeks into the national lockdown during which home confinement was mandatory. Changes in outcomes over the two study time points were evaluated for significance using paired t tests. RESULTS: There were no changes in reported vegetable intake; fruit intake increased (P = 0.055) during the lockdown. By contrast, potato chip, red meat, and sugary drink intakes increased significantly during the lockdown (P value range, 0.005 to < 0.001). Time spent in sports activities decreased by 2.30 (SD 4.60) h/wk (P = 0.003), and sleep time increased by 0.65 (SD 1.29) h/d (P = 0.003). Screen time increased by 4.85 (SD 2.40) h/d (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing these adverse collateral effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown is critical in avoiding depreciation of weight control efforts among youths afflicted with excess adiposity. Depending on duration, these untoward lockdown effects may have a lasting impact on a child's or adolescent's adult adiposity level.
706 citations
TL;DR: The findings suggest that the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities and interventions for families with low parental education might help to reduce children’s mental health problems.
Abstract: Aim
Children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status (SES) suffer from mental health problems more often than their peers with high SES. The aim of the current study was to investigate the direct and interactive association between commonly used indicators of SES and the exposure to stressful life situations in relation to children’s mental health problems.
Methods
The prospective BELLA cohort study is the mental health module of the representative, population-based German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Sample data include 2,111 participants (aged 7–17 years at baseline) from the first three measurement points (2003–2006, 2004–2007 and 2005–2008). Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were conducted to analyze associations among the SES indicators household income, parental education and parental unemployment (assessed at baseline), number of stressful life situations (e.g., parental accident, mental illness or severe financial crises; 1- and 2-year follow-ups) and parent-reported mental health problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire; 2-year follow-up).
Results
All indicators of SES separately predicted mental health problems in children and adolescents at the 2-year follow-up. Stressful life situations (between baseline and 2-year follow-up) and the interaction of parental education and the number of stressful life situations remained significant in predicting children’s mental health problems after adjustment for control variables. Thereby, children with higher educated parents showed fewer mental health problems in a stressful life situation. No moderating effect was found for household income and parental employment. Overall, the detected effect sizes were small. Mental health problems at baseline were the best predictor for mental health problems two years later.
Conclusions
Children and adolescents with a low SES suffer from multiple stressful life situations and are exposed to a higher risk of developing mental health problems. The findings suggest that the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities and interventions for families with low parental education might help to reduce children’s mental health problems.
181 citations
TL;DR: The purpose of this communication is to review select online resources available to dermatology trainees and to encourage colleagues to continue to advance their specialty through distance learning.
Abstract: The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has necessitated a dramatic shift in how our dermatology residents and fellows are educated. Distance or online learning has become the norm, and several national and international academic societies have combined resources to assure that continuing medical education occurs during this difficult time. The purpose of this communication is to review select online resources available to dermatology trainees and to encourage our colleagues to continue to advance our specialty through distance learning.
163 citations