Impact of COVID-19 on Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Preschool Children: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society is continuous, resulting in negative psychological consequences. Given the vulnerability and sensitivity to the environment among preschool children, their emotional and behavioral problems deserve more attention. The current study aimed to explore the impact of the epidemic on preschool children's mental health by determining the pooled prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and to reveal potential reasons for variations between studies. Published studies were searched in Embase, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang. The pooled prevalence was estimated with random-effect models, with the I² value estimating the heterogeneity. Egger’s test was used to estimate the publication bias. A total of 10 studies, including 38059 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children was 24.3% (95%CI, 0.15-0.38). The study demonstrated the negative impact of the epidemic on preschoolers' psychological health. Mental health care and recovery are essential for the vulnerable group during and after the public health crisis. Specific emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children are expected to research in the future to provide more targeted guidance for intervention.