Research Article: Psychological Difficulties in Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Effects of Spending Free Time with Parents or Using Digital Devices
Abstract:
The present study investigated protective and risk factors for psychological difficulties in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown. Specifically, the role of increased use of digital devices (DDs) for recreational purposes and the role of free time spent with parents were explored. Furthermore, the possible mediating effect of increased use of DDs in the relationship between free time spent with parents and psychological difficulties was tested. Participants were 4412 Italian children and adolescents, divided into two groups: children aged 6–10 years (n = 2248) and adolescents aged 11–18 years (n = 2164). Data were collected in Italy during the national lockdown and questionnaires were completed online by parents, who reported on their children’s habits. The daily use of DDs increased significantly during the lockdown compared to the previous period, in both children and adolescents. Additionally, psychological difficulties increased in both children and adolescents during the lockdown, with a more severe impairment for children. Increased use of DDs during the lockdown positively predicted psychological difficulties (children: beta = 0.18, p < 0.001; adolescents: beta = 0.13, p < 0.001), while free time spent with parents was protective (children: beta = ?13, p < 0.001; adolescents: beta = ?0.12, p < 0.001). For children (but not adolescents), increased use of DDs mediated the effects of free time spent with parents on psychological difficulties (children: beta = ?0.01, 95% CI [?0.018, ?0.002]; adolescents: beta = ?0.003, 95% CI [?0.009, 0.003]). The findings provide new insights for education and research.
Introduction:
The recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic originated in Wuhan, China, in 2019, before spreading throughout the world and forcing entire states to quarantine during the first months of 2020. Italy was one of the first European states to be affected by the virus, and from March to June, the entire nation was in lockdown. Almost all spheres of daily life were severely restricted, so that individuals could leave home for only basic necessities, while commercial enterprises selling unnecessary goods and all…
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