From the beginning to 2023; did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the anxiety of parents and preschool children equally over the time?

Abstract

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic is perceived as a major threat to health and the economy worldwide, and its effects have been ongoing for about five years. Studies were generally conducted in the early stages of the pandemic, and usually included adults or adolescents. Studies examining the impact of the pandemic on preschool children (3-6 years old) are quite scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the perceived anxiety levels of children aged 3 to 6 years and their parents, focusing on anxiety-related behavioral patterns in children and the frequency of anxiety-related expressions. The assessment was conducted at four distinct time points over four years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method. This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted between May 17, 2020 and October 30, 2023. An online questionnaire form was used at four different time points. Results. 3732 parents with children aged 3-6 participated in the study. Children's anxiety-related behaviors and expressions were more frequent during the first and second time points. Anxiety-related behaviors were more common in children during the long-term bans. Conclusion. Perceived anxiety levels of the children aged 3-6 years at different time points during COVID-19 pandemic reflected the epidemic trends of the disease and parental anxiety levels. Understanding how the effects are distributed is important for the future.