COVID-19 Pandemic and the Developmental Health of Kindergarteners.

IF 24.7 1区 医学 Q1 PEDIATRICS
Judith L Perrigo, Jordan Morales, Nicholas Jackson, Magdalena Janus, Lisa Stanley, Mitchell Wong, Neal Halfon
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Importance: Recent studies have associated the COVID-19 pandemic with negative developmental outcomes in children. However, research focused on young children remains limited, with few studies including multiple years of pre- and postpandemic onset data.

Objective: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US kindergarteners' developmental health.

Design, setting, and participants: This repeated cross-sectional panel study examined developmental health trends, as measured by the Early Development Instrument (EDI), among a convenience sample US kindergarteners from 2010 to 2023. EDI data were obtained from 390 school districts across 19 states. Data were analyzed from June December 2024.

Exposure: Kindergarteners' developmental health was compared between prepandemic (2018 to 2020) and postpandemic (2021 to 2023) onset cohorts.

Main outcomes and measures: Outcomes were EDI scores across time in 5 domains: (1) physical health and well-being, (2) social competence, (3) emotional maturity, (4) language and cognitive development, and (5) communication and general knowledge. The mean (95% CI) EDI scores were assessed.

Results: In this sample of of 475 740 US kindergarten students, 242 869 were male (51.1%), there were 53 841 African American or Black students (11.4%), 263 037 Hispanic or Latino/a students (55.5%), and 95 258 White students (20.1%), and the mean (SD) age was 6 (0.4) years (range, 4.0-8.0 years). Compared with the immediate prepandemic onset period, the rate of change in EDI scores was significantly lower following the pandemic onset in language and cognitive development (mean change, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.43), social competence (mean change, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.01), and communication and general knowledge (mean change, -0.18; 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.15). EDI scores were significantly higher in emotional maturity (mean change, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.07), and no significant changes were observed in the physical health and well-being domain (mean change, 0; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.02).

Conclusions and relevance: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with varying developmental health outcomes in kindergarteners. Negative developmental trends existed immediately before the pandemic, with most persisting or slowing postpandemic onset. These results highlight troubling trends in kindergarteners' development, both before and during the pandemic, and more information is needed to understand why developmental outcomes are worsening over time.

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来源期刊
JAMA Pediatrics
JAMA Pediatrics PEDIATRICS-
CiteScore
31.60
自引率
1.90%
发文量
357
期刊介绍: JAMA Pediatrics, the oldest continuously published pediatric journal in the US since 1911, is an international peer-reviewed publication and a part of the JAMA Network. Published weekly online and in 12 issues annually, it garners over 8.4 million article views and downloads yearly. All research articles become freely accessible online after 12 months without any author fees, and through the WHO's HINARI program, the online version is accessible to institutions in developing countries. With a focus on advancing the health of infants, children, and adolescents, JAMA Pediatrics serves as a platform for discussing crucial issues and policies in child and adolescent health care. Leveraging the latest technology, it ensures timely access to information for its readers worldwide.
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