Psychological consequences of the pandemic: Children struggle with fears and stress

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of children and young people remains worrying. A long-term study entitled “Corona and Psyche” (Copsy) shows that anxiety and depression are now 5% higher than before the pandemic. During the pandemic, many students had to switch from regular classes to online formats, which led to a drastic decline in social interaction. Nora Wanner, mental health coach and health psychologist at the Bergedorf district school in Hamburg, reports an increase in pressure to perform and school stress among students.

The study also highlights that children's ability to concentrate has decreased and many have difficulty staying focused for long periods of time. During homeschooling, numerous learning content lost its importance, which led to significant learning gaps. According to the survey as part of the Copsy study, in which 2,800 families, including 1,000 children and young people between the ages of 11 and 17, took part, children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and families with a migrant background in particular showed increased psychological and psychosomatic abnormalities. Children are particularly stressed when their parents are not at home or when there is a lack of technical equipment.

Growing stress and need for support

The Copsy study found that 27% of children and 37% of parents reported more frequent arguments since the pandemic. The researchers are calling for increased support for families in times of crisis. According to the study, around a quarter of children and young people continue to suffer from the psychological consequences of the pandemic. In order to help the affected students, a pilot project called “Mental Health Coach” was launched, which is being implemented in schools nationwide. There are currently 106 mental health coaches active to support children and young people.

The Copsy study is being carried out by the Child Public Health Research Department at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer and Dr. Anne Kaman and aims to identify factors influencing mental health in times of crisis. These results are of great importance as they should help develop prevention and intervention approaches. The first nationwide survey took place between May and June 2020 and surveyed over 1,000 children and young people and 1,500 parents.

The results of the Copsy study have been published in various scientific journals, and their relevance is also discussed in the media, such as ZDF and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf report.