The most recent report from the Co-SPACE (COVID-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents and Children in Epidemics) study led by the University of Oxford highlights that children in low -income families were impacted by the Covid-19 crisis more than those from higher-income families:
- Around two- and- a half times as many children from low-income households experienced significant problems with emotional restless and attention difficulties during a month of lockdown compared to those from higher-income families.
- Parents and carers reported that their children had higher levels of emotional difficulties, such as feeling unhappy, worried, being clingy and experiencing physical symptoms associated with worry than those from higher-income families. Their children were also more ‘fidgety and restless’ and had greater difficulty paying attention.
- Those with primary school aged children also reported that they were experiencing higher levels of behaviour difficulties, including temper tantrums, arguments and not doing what they were being asked to do by adults than those from higher incomes.
- The proportion of primary school aged children from lower-income families having significant (clinical) difficulties increased by as much as 35 per cent.
Andy Bell, deputy chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said, ‘The pandemic and the lockdown have already had a significant impact on children’s mental health across the country. Every family and every child’s experiences are unique to them, but this and other research points to a worrying rise in distress overall, and a chasm between the most and the least deprived children and families.
‘There is compelling evidence that poverty and inequality are toxic to children’s mental health. Sadly the pandemic has reinforced that divide. We must now see action at every level to close the gap and support children through the emotional challenges of this year.’
More than 11,500 parents have now taken part in the Co-SPACE survey which is continuing to collect data in order to determine whether children’s mental health throughout the Covid-19 crisis changes as many return to school.
Survey results are helping researchers identify what protects children and young people from deteriorating mental health, over time, and at particular stress points, and how this may vary according to child and family characteristics. This will help to identify what advice, support and help parents would find most useful.
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