Correlates of loneliness and dissatisfaction following SARS pandemic lockdown: Child and parent perspective

Background Studying loneliness among children is important because it causes much social pain and is considered to be a risk factor for many mental and physical problems. Methods We did an online survey between July and September 2020 among students and their parents from a cluster of government and private schools chosen from north, south, east and west of Chandigarh. The survey consisted of child and parent versions of the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire, Parent–Child Relationship (PCR) Questionnaire and Conflict Behaviour Questionnaire SF. Parental distress was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Results The majority of children and parent participants reported high loneliness and dissatisfaction among children. A significant positive association was found between children and parent reported loneliness and dissatisfaction, and between child reported PCR and parent perception of PCR. A child’s appraisal of her loneliness had a significant negative association with depression among parents. Parent’s perception of child loneliness and dissatisfaction was negatively associated with PCR and parental anxiety. High loner boys reported poor quality of relationship and more conflicts with their parents than girls. Children who share cordial relations with their parents had fewer conflicts and also scored low on loneliness. Conclusion These results suggest that the issue of loneliness and dissatisfaction among children has attained epidemic proportions in the Covid-19 era, and active interventions are needed to safeguard the mental health of children. Our study emphasizes the need to plan guidance strategies with a joint effort of schools and families to strengthen within family relations of children.