COVID-19 mental health impact among children with early brain injury and associated conditions

ABSTRACT

This study describes the impact of COVID-19 among a clinical research sample of children with early brain injury and associated conditions. Between March 2020 and March 2021, 64 children and their parents participated. Children ranged in age between 3 and 14 years (M = 6 years, 3 months; SD = 2 years, 4 months) with a range of diagnoses (i.e., neonatal stroke, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), congenital heart disease (CHD) and preterm birth (<32 weeks)). The abbreviated CoRonavIrus Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) was completed by parents as part of their child’s routine intake for neuropsychological services. Questions included COVID-19 specific ratings of child mental health impact, child, and parent stressors, with open-ended questions regarding negative and positive COVID-19 related changes. Over 40% of parents described moderate to extreme influence of COVID-19 on their child’s mental health. Common child stressors reported included restrictions on leaving the home and social isolation. Among parents, the most common stress reported was caring for their child’s education and daily activities. Children’s mental health impact was associated with social isolation, parent mental health, COVID-19 economic concern, and number of siblings in the home. Child’s age, sex, brain injury severity, or intellectual functioning were not associated with reported COVID-19 mental health impact. Some COVID-19 positives were identified, namely increased quality family time. Findings reflect the significant pandemic mental health impact among neurologically at-risk children and their families. Implications to future clinical needs and considerations for neuropsychological practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• child mental health
• parent mental health
• neonatal brain injury
• social isolation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of our research team, parent advisors, and participants. We would also like to thank the Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic and Neurology teams at SickKids for their ongoing support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Centre for Brain and Mental Health (C-BMH) and Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children.