Child behavior during the social distancing in the COVID-19 pandemic

To describe the daily activities performed by children from 6 to 12 years of age incomplete and analyze children’s behavior during social distancing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study with children in a learning stage living in Brazil. The data were collected via online form. Fisher’s exact test was applied to analyze the association of categorical variables with child behavior; when significant, it was used the odds ratio. It was considered results considered statistically significant those presenting values of p < 0.05.

Results:

Data from 530 children were analyzed: 50.3% female, 71.3% from the Southeast Region, 73% in fulltime social distancing, 52% presented anxiety, which was significantly associated with changes in sleep and appetite.

Conclusion:

The results indicate the need for parents/caretakers to stimulate moments for the child to express themselves, not minimizing their feelings and providing emotional support to mitigate the negative impact of these feelings on the child’s mental and physical health.

Descriptors:
Pandemics; Social Isolation; Child Behavior; Pediatrics; Pediatric Nursing

	n	%
In what region do you live?
Midwest	54	10.2
Northeast	71	13.4
North	9	1.7
Southeast	378	71.3
South	18	3.4
Are you or another person responsible for the child in fulltime social isolation?
No	143	27.0
Yes	387	73.0
What is the child's gender?
Female	266	50.3
Male	263	49.7
What is the child's age?
6-7	175	33.2
8-9	179	33.9
10-12 incomplete	173	32.8
Is the child in fulltime social distancing?
No	147	27.7
Yes	383	72.3
In what type of school does the child study?
Privada	473	89.2
Pública	57	10.8
Is the child taking an online class or video lesson?
No	84	15.8
Yes	446	84.2
Does the child have a routine with established schedules for study and playtime?
No	122	23.0
Yes	408	77.0
Did you notice any different behavior in the child during social distancing?
Agitation
No	341	64.3
Yes	189	35.7
Agressiveness
No	437	82.5
Yes	93	17.5
Anxiety
No	253	47.7
Yes	277	52.3
Discouragement
No	413	77.9
Yes	117	22.1
Irritability
No	308	58.1
Yes	222	41.9
Fear
No	407	76.8
Yes	123	23.2
Others
No	485	91.5
Yes	45	8.5

	Anxiety				p value^* * Fisher's exact test	OR^† † OR = odds ratio. (CI of 95%)
	No		Yes
	n	%	n	%
Does the child perform any type of physical activity at home during full time social distancing?					0.079
No	134	44.4	168	55.6		1.37 (0.97-1.93)
Yes	119	52.2	109	47.8		(Ref)
What is being done to entertain the child during full time social distancing?
Cell phone, tablet, computer, television					0.148
No	12	66.7	6	33.3
Yes	241	47.1	271	52.9
Watching movies with the family					0.054
No	54	56.8	41	43.2
Yes	199	45.7	236	54.3
Reading					0.789
No	96	46.8	109	53.2
Yes	157	48.3	168	51.7
Playful activities					0.654
No	162	48.5	172	51.5
Yes	91	46.4	105	53.6
Board games					0.662
No	110	46.6	126	53.4
Yes	143	48.6	151	51.4
Others					0.859
No	154	48.1	166	51.9
Yes	99	47.1	111	52.9

	Anxiety				p value^* * Fisher's exact test	OR^† † OR = odds ratio. (CI of 95%)
	No		Yes
	n	%	n	%
Did the child have any sleep changes during the social distancing?					< 0.001
No	138	54.5	100	36.1		(Ref)
Yes	115	45.5	177	63.9		2.12 (1.50 - 3.00)
Did the child have a change in his or her appetite during social distancing?					< 0.001
No	152	60.1	90	32.5		(Ref)
Yes	101	39.9	187	67.5		3.12 (2.19 - 4.46)

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Eny Dórea Paiva E-mail: enydorea@gmail.com