The effects of information resources on children and adolescent mental health in pandemics; Covid-19 sample

Abstract

Pandemics have negative physical and mental effects on children and adolescents. However, our knowledge about the factors related to the mental problems experienced in this process is limited. This study aimed to examine the association between resources of Covid-19 related information exposure and sociodemographic characteristics and mental health problems during pandemics.This study was carried out with 1030 children. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and exposure to information flow about the Covid-19 pandemic were recorded. Psychiatric problems were assessed using the DSM-5 Level-2 Anxiety Scale, DSM-5 Level-2 Depression Scale, DSM-5 Level-2 Sleep Disorder Scale.The mean age was found as 10.45 years. It was determined that 33% of the participants had moderate/high level anxiety symptoms and 16.1% had moderate/high level depressive symptoms. Girl gender was related with anxiety-depression symptoms and sleep disorders, living in urban area was related with anxiety symptoms, increasing age and presence of death due to Covid-19 were associated with depression symptoms. It was determined that information exposure through TV, internet and peer conversations is associated with anxiety-depression symptoms, and information exposure via internet and family conversations was associated with sleep disorder symptoms..Measures to be taken for both sociodemographic risk factors and the negative consequences of resources of information exposure may reduce the negative psychological effects of pandemics on children.