Service Providers' Perceptions of Psychological, Emotional, and Behavioral Issues Among Children and Adolescents During COVID-19 in South Korea

Various emotional and psychological support services for children and adolescents were implemented in South Korea during the COVID-19 era. However, little is known about the limitations and future directions of current support services from the perspective of service providers. The purpose of this study was to explore service providers' perspectives on emotional and psychological support services for children and adolescents. The present study purposively recruited 11 clinical practitioners providing support services for children and adolescents to conduct semistructured focus group interviews. Thematic analysis identified four major themes: (a) a noticeable increase in problematic behaviors among children and adolescents (e.g., intrinsic and extrinsic problem behaviors); (b) changes in service use patterns (e.g., increased non-face-to-face services); (c) frustrations with inadequate support systems (e.g., the absence of qualified professionals); and (d) identifying future directions (e.g., improving awareness of support services). The findings highlight the necessity of enhancing awareness of how to access services by reducing stigma. The findings also emphasize the need for improved cooperation between public and private facilities, as well as a greater number of skilled professionals to provide high-quality programs. The practical and political implications are discussed based on the findings.