General health status and psychological impact of COVID19 pandemic on children in Kuwait

Introduction: COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic and public health emergency in 2019 and has impacted children’s mental health worldwide. This study aimed to assess the general and mental health status of children during this pandemic and to identify the associated factors.

Methods:  A cross-sectional study conducted on children (3 to 12 years) during three different stages of COVID19 pandemic in Kuwait. The psychological status was sassessed using the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria.

Results:

Of 2157 participants, 39.5% reported increased level of aggression, 36.6% overcrying, 34.7% sadness, 22.9% anxiety, 19.9% anhedonia, 17.8% confusion, 12.7% nightmares, 8.2% avoidance, 8.1% physical symptoms and 5.6% bedwetting during the pandemic. Nightmares (11.4% vs. 11.3% vs. 15.6%, p=0.004) and anhedonia (19% vs. 17.6% vs. 23.2%, p=0.051) were significantly higher in post-total curfew, while over-crying at the beginning of the pandemic (39.8% vs. 32.1% vs. 37%, p=0.044). Among 657 children aging 8 to 12 years , 77 (11.7%) had homicidal behaviors, while 25 children (3.8%) self-reported having suicidal ideation during the pandemic. Disturbed sleeping pattern (84.6%), altered appetite (50.9%) and weight changes (36.9%), mainly weight gain, were also reported. Risk factors included being non-national, having lower parental educational level and lower socioeconomic status; while protective factors involved meeting classmates, indoor and outdoor activities, and less screen time.

Conclusions:  COVID19 crisis had drastic impact on children’s mental and general health, requiring serious action regarding screening and evaluating this generation, particularly those who are at higher risk, and intervening accordingly. Long-term consequences of COVID19 pandemic need to be further investigated in future.

Dr. Maryam Burezq is a motivated pediatric registrar who is interested in volunteering and the research field and passionate about children’s physical and mental health. Dr. Maryam is enrolled in the Kuwaiti Board of Pediatrics at the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS). Editorial Board Member of the American Journal of Pediatrics (2022-2024) & Journal of Advances in Medical Sciences. Reviewer in the A reviewer in the American Journal of Pediatric (JAMS) (2023-2025), the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, and Children and Youth Services Review. Interested in the research field and passionate about children’s physical and mental health.