March 3, 2020

Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Mental Health and Personal Impact

• An estimated 220 million children have experienced home confinement in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. China has implemented its emergency home schooling plan, and courses online and via TV are available to mitigate some of the educational impact on children.
• While there can be some benefits to home confinement, including more family interaction and communication, PTSD symptoms have been shown to be 4 times higher among children who experience quarantine, while confinement can also yield decreased physical activity, increased screen time, and poor food choices. 
• The authors encourage local professionals to help develop social networks and materials for families, and encourage psychologists and social workers to provide psychological support and assistance for children and families.

Wang et al. (Mar 3, 2020). Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30547-X