Chapter 2

This chapter presents the review of related literature and studies of the sub-topics of
this research; Psychiatric issues, Education,Socialization and Parental Perceptions.
Psychiatric Issues
Although children are vulnerable to environmental risks but statistics regarding
psychological impact of home confinement, quarantine and isolation in children and
adolescents are elusive and very few studies address this important aspect. Data from
the COVID -19 studies from Italy, Spain and China suggests significant emotional
and behavior changes during quarantine in children and adolescents.21–23 Common
reactions of children and adolescents to disasters including health related ones
depends on child age and developmental levels.28 While younger children may be
clingier or regress in behaviors, older children may become more anxious, angry,
restless and withdrawn while in Quarantine.29 Literature suggests that children often
display their worries in ways that caregivers may interpret as defiant
behavior.29 Children subjected to quarantine in pandemic disasters have more
likelihood of developing acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder and grief and
reported four times higher scores of PTSD compared to those who were not
quarantined.13 The fact that high PTSD prevalence noted in literature was related to
short lived infectious outbreaks like SARS, there is likelihood of huge segments of
young population to experience residual and lasting distress and trauma due to larger
scale and prolonged COVID-19 outbreak. It is also important to note that travel
restrictions, closure or availability of limited outpatient services in many hospitals in
different countries, may lead to reduce access to mental health services during the
current pandemic
Education
There is compelling evidence that school closure as a disease containment measure
during outbreaks like Influenza can dramatically reduce the spread of disease but
there may be high cost of prolonged school closures among children and
adolescents.37 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
highlighted that with mass school closures in more than 188 countries during COVID-
19 Pandemic, “the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is
unparalleled”. None of the studies in our review looked at impact of quarantine on
children academics and schooling. However, a recent paper by Joyce Lee highlighted
the mental health effects of school closures. Some previous reviews also emphasized
loss of education, nutritional problems and social isolation leading to psychological
harm as few of adverse effects of school closures.38 Besides, academics, school
routines are important for children and they access many services including mental
health support through schools.
Socialization
Social distancing measures like quarantine can worsen feelings of loneliness and
isolation. Children and adolescents need to stay connected with family and friends,
which gets difficult with school closures, limited visits with friends and families etc.
Inability to activate your social network is noted to be associated with anxiety and
distress.40 One of the studies in our review looked at impact of isolation on
socialization of families of children with disability. They reported feeling strangers in
their own communities due to rejection they faced because of their children problems.
Reduction in social interaction with other children has also been reported in Ebola and
HIV outbreaks.26,34 It is important to have support groups for children and families
in quarantine so that they may feel connected and empowered and it can reduce
psychological distress
Parental Perceptions
Most of the studies in our review had parents as reporter of child symptoms. Many
parents isolated at home are also under lots of stress. Parental perception of quarantine
impact on children and adolescents thus have element of subjectivity. Parents
reporting more child emotional and behavioral difficulties were noted to be one who
found family coexistence difficult or very difficult.22 Parental stress has been shown
to predict stress reactions in children and therefore parents need to maintain their own
calm. Although it is considered natural to protect children from unpleasant
information, but even very young children react to environmental changes and often
assume the worst. By managing their own stress better, parents can help to manage
children stress.

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Chapter 2

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This chapter presents the review of related literature and studies of the sub-topics of

this research; Psychiatric issues, Education,Socialization and Parental Perceptions.

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