Increased post-COVID-19 behavioral, emotional, and social problems in Taiwanese children

Abstract

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has remarkably impacted children's mental health. Investigating whether COVID-19-related behavioral changes persist after recovery from the acute phase of infection warrants investigation. The present study aimed to identify children's behavioral/emotional and social adjustment problems after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

84 children aged 6–16 received assessments within 6 months after being tested positive for COVID-19. Their parents reported observations about their children 3 months before SARS-CoV-2 infection (pre-COVID condition) and the most recent 2 weeks (post-COVID condition) on a wide range of psychopathologies and social functional impairments. A control group consisted of 84 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched healthy children, with the same measures as those employed in the COVID group.

Results

Compared with the control group, the COVID group in the post-COVID condition had more severe symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, opposition, a wide range of emotional and behavioral problems, and poor school functions, school attitude, social interaction, school behavioral problems, and interaction problems with their parents. Compared with the pre-COVID condition, the COVID group had greater severity of inattention, somatic complaints, thought problems, internalizing problems, poor school functions, and interaction problems with their parents in the post-COVID condition.

Conclusions

The present study identified a significant link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and various post-COVID mental health sequelae in children, including behavioral/emotional and social adjustment challenges. Our results underline the importance of raising awareness about ongoing post-COVID mental health concerns in children.