Children's Anxiety and Factors Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study Using the Children's Anxiety Questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale

Autor(es)

Garcia de Avila, Marla Andreia ^[1] ; Hamamoto Filho, Pedro Tadao ^[2] ; da Silva Jacob, Francine Leticia ^[1] ; Souza Alcantara, Leia Regina ^[1] ; Berghammer, Malin ^{[3, 4]} ; Nolbris, Margaretha Jenholt ^{[4, 5]} ; Olaya-Contreras, Patricia ^[5] ; Nilsson, Stefan ^[5]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Nursing, Botucatu Med Sch, UNESP, BR-18618687 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Neurol, Botucatu Med Sch, UNESP, BR-18618687 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ West, Inst Hlth Sci, S-46186 Trollhattan - Sweden

^[4] Queen Silvia Childrens Hosp, S-41650 Gothenburg - Sweden

^[5] Univ Gothenburg, Univ Gothenburg Ctr Person Centred Care, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Hlth & Care Sci, S-40530 Gothenburg - Sweden

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH; v. 17, n. 16 AUG 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's lives deserve attention. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety among Brazilian children and its associated factors during social distancing during COVID-19. We used a cross-sectional design with an online survey from April to May 2020 in Brazil. We included children aged 6-12 years and their guardians. The Children's Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ; scores 4-12) and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS; scores 0-10) were used to measure anxiety. We enrolled 157 girls and 132 boys, with a mean age of 8.84 (+/- 2.05) years; 88.9% of respondents were mothers. Based on CAQ >= 9, the prevalence of anxiety was 19.4% (n = 56), and higher among children with parents with essential jobs and those who were social distancing without parents. In logistic regression, the following variables were associated with higher CAQ scores: social distancing without parents; more persons living together in home; and education level of guardians. Based on NRS > 7, the prevalence of anxiety was 21.8% (n = 63); however, no associations with NRS scores were found with the investigated variables. These findings suggest the necessity of implementing public health actions targeting these parents and their children at the population level. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/05294-9 - Material educativo lúdico para a realização da visita pré-operatória de enfermagem: construção, validação e aplicação clínica
• Beneficiário: Marla Andréia Garcia de Avila
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular