Psychological Resilience, Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents whose Parents With COVID-19

Abstract

In December 2019, a coronavirus known as Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was detected in China and turned into a pandemic. The main strategy to avoid COVID-19 infection has been isolation and social distancing strategies. Therefore, we evaluated the children of parents who were isolated due to COVID-19 in terms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Fifty-two children whose mother and / or father had been infected with COVID-19 in the last three months were included in the study. The children's ages vary between the ages of 7 and 17; 27 of them are girls. The Child Depression Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Response Scale for Children, Childhood Anxiety Screening Scale, and Psychological Resilience Scale were administered to all children. It was determined that 19.2% of the children had depressive symptoms; the frequency of depression symptoms was 40% in those with chronic disease and 50% in those with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Various levels of PTSD symptoms were observed in all children included in the present study. While the rate of severe PTSD symptoms was 35.1% in those whose mothers were isolated; It was found to be 6.7% in those whose fathers were isolated. Children whose both parents were infected with COVID-19 had the highest anxiety scores, followed by children whose only mothers were infected and whose only fathers were infected, respectively. The depression symptoms were found to be more frequent in children who disagreed with the idea that scientists understand the coronavirus well, that the Ministry of Health in Turkey manages the process well, that the measures taken by themselves or the government will make a difference. In addition, it has been shown that severe PTSD symptoms are more frequent in children who disagree with the idea that scientists understand the coronavirus well and who think that the rules applied in Turkey interfere too much with their daily lives. Children whose daily life was restricted by the COVID-19 Pandemic; considering that their cognitive, emotional, physical, and psychological development has not yet been completed, psychological support should be provided, and effective strategies should be followed to increase their adaptation to the problems they may experience during this process, to strengthen their psychological resilience.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• child
• depression
• anxiety
• posttraumatic stress
• percieved threat

Ebeveynleri COVID-19 Geçiren Çocuk ve Ergenlerde Psikolojik Sağlamlık, Depresyon, Anksiyete ve Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu Belirtileri

Abstract

Aralık 2019'da, Çin'de Yeni Koronavirüs (SARS-CoV-2) olarak bilinen bir koronavirüs tespit edilmiş ve dünya çapında bir salgın haline gelmiştir. COVID-19’dan korunmanın temel yolu, izolasyon ve sosyal uzaklaşma stratejileri olmuştur. Bu çalışmada, COVID-19 nedeni ile izole edilen ebeveynlerin çocuklarını depresyon, anksiyete ve travma sonrası stres bozukluğu (TSSB) belirtileri açısından değerlendirdik. Çalışmaya anne ve/veya babası son 3 ay içinde COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmiş 52 çocuk dahil edilmiştir. Çocukların yaşları 7 yaş ile 17 yaş arasındadır ve 27’si kızdır. Tüm çocuklara, Çocuklar için Depresyon Ölçeği, Çocuklar için Travma Sonrası Stres Tepki Ölçeği, Çocukluk Anksiyete Tarama Ölçeği, Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Çocukların %19.2’sinde depresif semptomların olduğu, depresyon semptomların kronik hastalığı olanlarda %40, tanı almış psikiyatrik hastalığı olanlarda %50 olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çocuklarda, değişen düzeylerde TSSB belirtileri saptanmıştır. Annesi izole edilenlerde, ağır TSSB belirtileri oranı %35.1; babası izole edilenlerde %6.7’dir. Her iki ebeveyni de COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçiren çocuklarda anksiyete puanı en yüksek bulunurken, bunu sırasıyla sadece annesi geçiren çocuklar ve sadece babası geçirenler izlemiştir. Bilim adamlarının koronavirüsü iyi anladıkları, ülkemizde Sağlık Bakanlığı’nın süreci iyi yönettiği, koronavirüsün yayılmasını kısıtlamak için kendi alacağı ve ülkemizde alınacak koruyucu önlemlerin fark oluşturacağı fikrine katılmayan çocuklarda depresyon semptom sıklığı daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, bilim adamlarının koronavirüsü iyi anladıkları fikrine katılmayan ve ülkemizde uygulanan kuralların günlük yaşamlarına çok fazla müdahalede bulunduğunu düşünen çocuklarda, ağır TSSB belirti sıklığının daha yüksek olduğu gösterilmiştir. COVID-19 salgını ile günlük yaşamları kısıtlanmış olan çocukların; bilişsel, duygusal, fiziksel ve psikolojik gelişimlerinin henüz tamamlanmamış olduğu dikkate alındığında, bu süreçte yaşayabilecekleri sorunlara karşı uyumlarını arttırmak, psikolojik dayanıklılıklarını güçlendirmek için ruhsal destek sunulmalı ve etkin stratejiler izlenmelidir.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• çocuk
• depresyon
• anksiyete
• travma sonrası stres
• algılanan tehdit

Supporting Institution

Yoktur

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