Top health concerns for kids in 2020 during the pandemic

Implications

COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, a primary focus of our nation with regard to health. However, when it comes to children and teens, parents’ biggest concerns are not with the disease itself, but rather with the impact of the changes experienced as a result of a pandemic. COVID-19 has turned the world of our children and teens upside down in many ways, and this is shown in how parents rate health issues as “big problems” in 2020.

As children spend more time online because of virtual school and/or not being able to spend time with friends in person, it is not surprising that the top 3 problems are all related to screen use. Although there is concern about too much screen time for kids, it is also important for parents to remember that this can be an important vehicle for them to maintain social and family connections that are so vital for their emotional well-being during these stressful times. Especially for teens who are attending school virtually, home isolation would be so much more difficult without technology in general.

However, increased time online can also raise the risk of cyberbullying and other types of abuse. Parents need to have ongoing conversations with their children and teens to guide them in safe internet practices, including the protection of their privacy and how to avoid those who try to prey on kids via the internet.

Increased screen time and the social isolation from COVID-19 can also affect a child’s physical health by disrupting sleep habits, increasing the potential for unhealthy eating and reducing outside physical activity—all issues in the top 10 health concerns identified by parents in this Mott Poll.

Another top health concern involves kids experiencing increased negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, or depression; these negative emotions may be related to or exacerbated by COVID-19. Children need an outlet for their emotions, and parents may notice changes such as increased behavioral issues of younger kids or more moodiness or lethargy from older kids and teenagers. In these situations, parents should encourage children and teens to talk about their feelings, and find ways to help them cope with the new reality. Some will benefit from maintaining routines and trying to keep things as “normal” as can be, while others may need increased flexibility.

An important finding in this Mott Poll was that a much higher proportion of Black parents rated racism as a big problem for children and teens, compared with Hispanic and White parents, making it their top-rated health issue. Although racism directly impacts specific populations, the result of racism on children’s health is a societal concern that seems to be invisible to many adults. Racism affects children’s health in numerous and complicated ways. The impact of racism can manifest in physical problems such as disparities in the rates of diseases like asthma among different populations, and also in children’s mental health. Children targeted by racism have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and behavior problems.

Racism can instill a sense of helplessness in both children and teens. Recognizing the impact of racism on children is a first step for everyone in our society to take action to address it. Standing up to racism can make a difference for all kids in many ways. On a personal level, seeing they can be part of a solution teaches kids to feel empowered, not helpless. On a social level, individual and community actions can promote racial equality and justice.

Black and Hispanic adults also rated COVID-19 as a top health concern for children and teens. This is likely due to the higher rates of COVID-19 infections in Black and Hispanic communities relative to the general population. Children who have lost family members to COVID-19 may need special attention and mental health services to help them understand and cope with their loss.