Consequences of the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on child and adolescent mental, psychosocial, and physical health: A scoping review and interactive evidence map

Abstract

Effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on children stem beyond immediate infectious and post-infectious risks. Our aim was to conduct a scoping review and produce an online Interactive Evidence Map (IEM) highlighting available literature around unintended effects of the pandemic on children’s and adolescents’ mental, psychosocial, and physical health. A search was run monthly in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register from May 1st 2021 through April 30th 2022. All articles involving children and adolescents under 18 years of age relating to any unintended mental, psychosocial, and physical health consequences of the pandemic and resultant restrictions were included. Data were extracted and topics categorized, with corresponding data uploaded into EPPI-Reviewer and transferred to EPPI-Mapper for visualization. A total of 14,555 citations were screened and 826 (6%) articles included. Most articles reported on mental health outcomes, particularly anxiety ( n = 309, 37%) and depression ( n = 294, 36%). Psychosocial outcomes related to lockdowns such as loneliness ( n = 120, 15%) and impact on adolescent relationships with others ( n = 149, 18%) were also reported. Fewer articles examined physical consequences, but those that did mostly focused on child abuse ( n = 73, 9%). Overall, currently mapped literature focuses on consequences related to mental health outcomes such as anxiety and depression.