Resumen de COVID-19 pandemic impact on family life and exacerbated emotional and behavioral health among preschool children: a longitudinal study

Xiuxiu Ding, Haixia Liu, Hao Wang, Qiuxia Song, Wanying Su, Ning Li, Mingming Liang, Xianwei Guo, Guangbo Qu, Shaodi Ma, Qirong Qin, Mingchun Chen, Liang Sun, Yehuan Sun

• Background/Objective This study aimed to examine associations of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life with emotional and behavioral health among preschool children.

  Methods A longitudinal study including 1595 preschool children aged 3–6 years and their families was conducted in Anhui Province. The linear regression was applied to examine associations between the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life and emotional and behavioral health.

  Results Results of the multivariable linear regression indicated that the severe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life was significantly associated with more sleep problems, poor dietary behavior habits, more anxiety symptoms, and more problematic behaviors; and these effects exhibited gender and age differences.

  Conclusions The severe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life significantly increased the risk for exacerbated emotional and behavioral health among preschool children. It is considered vital to identify risk factors for vulnerable families and then to implement precise interventions when necessary for emotional and behavioral health of children in these families.