A Review of Studies on the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Psychological Effects of Related Measures on Children, Youth and Parents.

Abstract

Pandemics are social events that affect individuals' lives in many ways and have a significant impact on the mental health of masses. Pandemics and measures taken to combat these epidemics affect children and young people as well as adults. The purpose of the current review is to compile studies that have been conducted on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures on children, youth, and parents, and use the findings to shed light on future studies. In this review, 35 studies that were determined as a result of a comprehensive search in relevant literature were examined. It was observed that the aforementioned studies noted that the COVID-19 global pandemic and the measures taken to combat the epidemic (e.g., quarantine, lockdown, and school closures) had negative psychological effects on children, young people, and parents. Problems observed in children and young people, such as the fear of catching or transmitting the virus, getting bored, not being able to communicate enough with friends and teachers, and problems observed in parents, such as the troubles of negative repercussions of working at home or unemployment and difficulties in communicating with children with the closure of schools, are only a few to name these negative effects. The reviewed studies were discussed taking their limitations into account. Recommendations were made for future studies and intervention programs to be planned for community mental health. Keywords: COVID-19, children and youth, parents, pandemic, quarantine.