Open AccessThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and beyond: A scoping review
Author(s) -
Jane Spiteri
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of childhood, education and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2717-638X
DOI - 10.37291/2717638x.20212294
Subject(s) - mental health , pandemic , social distance , covid-19 , psychology , affect (linguistics) , public relations , medicine , psychiatry , political science , disease , communication , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The major threat of COVID-19 has become a priority to education and health systems worldwide. This scoping review reports on, and analyses, the literature pertaining to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and the resources needed to assist them in these difficult times. The findings of this literature review point out the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of children hailing from different socio-economic backgrounds, as well as the impacts on families and schools. They also highlight how lockdown, quarantine, social distancing, social media and the measures needed to prevent the spread of infection can negatively affect children’s mental health and wellbeing. Consequently, cautionary measures that minimise these impacts on children, and recommendations for policy, research and practice are discussed.