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COVID-19 Lockdown, Home Environment, Lifestyles, and Mental Health among Preschoolers in China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Yunting
  • Zhao, Jin
  • Yu, Zhangsheng
  • Wang, Guanghai
  • Zhang, Jun
  • Jiang, Fan
  • Wu, Saishuang
  • Zhang, Yue
  • Zhang, Donglan
  • Chen, Xi

Abstract

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shanghai implemented lockdown measures to stop transmission of the virus. Over 26 million residents, including 0.8 million children aged 3-6, were confined at home. This study leveraged a city-wide cohort of preschool children - the Shanghai Children's Health, Education and Lifestyle Evaluation, Preschool (SCHEDULE-P) - and used a quasi-experimental design to study the impact of lockdown on preschool children's mental health and changes in their home environment and lifestyles. Two cohorts - the pre-pandemic cohort and the pandemic cohort - were investigated and compared using the difference-in-differences approach. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to screen children who were at risk for mental health distress. The Index of Childcare Environment questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality and quantity of stimulation and support available to children in their family environment. Children's screen time, sleep duration, and household socioeconomic status were also queried. The results showed that having experienced lockdown and home confinement was associated with a 3.1% increase in the percentage of children at risk for mental health distress, was associated with 21.2 minutes/day longer screen time, 15.7 minutes/day longer sleep duration, and a less favorable family environment. Children of parents with lower levels of education were more likely to experience mental health challenges associated with the lockdown.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yunting & Zhao, Jin & Yu, Zhangsheng & Wang, Guanghai & Zhang, Jun & Jiang, Fan & Wu, Saishuang & Zhang, Yue & Zhang, Donglan & Chen, Xi, 2024. "COVID-19 Lockdown, Home Environment, Lifestyles, and Mental Health among Preschoolers in China," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1430, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1430
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    Keywords

    Lockdown; Preschoolers; Mental health; Home environment; Lifestyle; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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