Weekly Press Release of Istanbul Gelisim University (February 8-12, 2021) 

Abstract

BY A DOYEN -- The Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 on Children - The new situations in health, education and work that have emerged with the global COVID-19 outbreak are profoundly affecting various aspects of people’s lives. Although children and young people often experience mild symptoms, the developmental risks of those in this group have increased due to the fact that the epidemic has changed daily life. In some cases, the negativities created by new situations such as parentchild separation, the possibility of themselves or their loved ones getting the disease, and the decrease in friendship relations may create fear, anxiety and adaptation problems in children and young people. Other risks include psychological problems of parents, domestic violence, and an increase in child neglect and abuse. All scientific studies examining risk factors for mental disorders in childhood and adulthood revealed that responses to stress and disaster situations show distinct individual changes. Some children are in collapse and destruction, while others manage to protect themselves from damage. The fact of maintaining adaptive functions despite serious risk conditions is evaluated as “stamina”. Understanding the factors that improve resilience is still under investigation. Researchers studying in this field define the factors that enable healthy development to continue despite adverse environments as “protective factors”. For example, the presence of a loving mother or father against 3 or more risk factors reduces behavioral problems. In resilient children, close relationships are seen with a caring parent figure or an adult outside the family. Developmental psychology research supports the view that experiences in early childhood, learned experiences, effects on cognitive, emotional and psychosocial development form the basis of lifelong behavior and success. In this context, efforts should be made to avoid long-term negative effects on the psychosocial development of children and to take serious measures, especially during the epidemic period. Including psychosocial support services in emergency action plans for situations requiring home isolation will provide significant contributions. These services can be carried out with family support programs structured according to the characteristics of families with the cooperation of different occupational groups, including child developers. Within the scope of these programs, it is important to find techniques related to the development of communication skills within the family, parent attitudes towards raising healthy children and skills to cope with stress. Studies for risk environments; Increasing the communication between parents and children in such periods and the existence of activity programs that guide children to conduct their daily lives regularly show that children and young people develop their ability to cope with stress. It is not known when the COVID-19 outbreak will end. In case it takes a long time, including psychosocial support programs for children in emergency action plans against the possibility of adding new ones to risk factors is of great importance in terms of the healthy construction of our future. Prof. Dr. M. Meziyet ARI Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Child Development