In the turbulent early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as nations grappled with unprecedented challenges to public health systems, economies, and social structures, a quieter yet equally profound crisis began unfolding behind closed doors. The psychological impact on children and adolescents—an often-overlooked demographic in global disaster response—emerged as a pressing concern among mental health professionals and researchers. A recent systematic review, published in BMC Psychology, delves deeply into this phenomenon, offering vital insights into how the initial phases of the pandemic reshaped the psychological landscape for younger populations worldwide.
This study, led by Thiha, Soe, and Win among others, meticulously synthesizes data from multiple sources to unravel the complex emotional and cognitive ramifications felt by children and adolescents during the first months of the global crisis. Unlike adults, who might have leveraged prior experiences or developed more robust coping mechanisms, young individuals faced a sudden, jarring upheaval of their routines and support systems, compounding feelings of uncertainty and distress. This review is particularly significant as it aggregates findings during a period still fresh in collective experience, capturing the acute shocks before adaptive processes could take hold.
One salient feature of the research is its focus on systemic factors contributing to psychological stress. School closures, social isolation, and inconsistent communication from adults and policymakers formed a trifecta of disruption. The abrupt cessation of in-person education not only hindered academic progress but also severed critical social connections that underpin emotional resilience in youth. Coupled with the omnipresent fear of illness and loss—both immediate and abstract—these disruptions exacerbated anxiety and depressive symptoms across diverse populations. The comprehensive approach taken in this review highlights how infrastructural breakdowns ripple through to individual emotional health.
Moreover, the review elucidates neurodevelopmental considerations that compound psychological vulnerabilities among children. The pandemic intervened during critical periods of brain maturation when social interaction is indispensable for developing empathy, self-regulation, and executive functioning. Interruptions in typical social and educational stimuli may have precipitated latent developmental delays or exacerbated pre-existing neuropsychological disorders. The researchers argue that understanding these developmental nuances is crucial for tailoring intervention strategies, emphasizing that a one-size-fits-all approach risks leaving certain subgroups underserved or overlooked.
The methodology employed in this systematic review deserves attention for its rigor and breadth. The authors leveraged a wide array of peer-reviewed studies, longitudinal surveys, and psychological assessments conducted from January to December 2020. Their inclusion criteria ensured diverse representation across socioeconomic strata, geographical regions, and pandemic severity levels, thus providing a holistic snapshot rather than a narrow vignette. The synthesis process involved meta-analytic techniques to quantify prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms, lending quantitative weight to qualitative observations. This integration underscores the scientific robustness of their conclusions.
Significantly, the study underscores socio-economic disparities as a critical determinant of psychological outcomes in youth during the pandemic’s onset. Children from marginalized communities, including those facing economic hardship, lacked access to virtual learning tools or mental health resources, compounding their isolation and distress. This digital divide inadvertently widened pre-existing inequalities, resulting in a disproportional burden of psychological morbidity. The authors call for targeted policy responses to bridge these gaps, advocating for equitable access to technology and culturally sensitive mental health services as cornerstones of pandemic recovery efforts.
Another notable dimension explored involves family dynamics under pandemic pressures. For many children, home environments became double-edged swords—sources of comfort or, conversely, arenas of heightened conflict and stress. Lockdowns trapped vulnerable youths in households with limited parental support or exposure to domestic violence, catalyzing psychological trauma. Conversely, stable family units sometimes served as protective buffers, fostering resilience through increased parental involvement and shared activities. The review highlights the bidirectional influence of familial context, suggesting that mental health interventions require personalization sensitive to home environments.
The review further details the disruptions to routine healthcare and psychological support systems, which compounded mental health challenges. Many children reliant on ongoing therapeutic services experienced cancellations or abrupt transitions to telehealth, which, while innovative, did not always replicate in-person efficacy. The resultant gaps risked deterioration in conditions such as anxiety disorders, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. This revelation prompts urgent calls for integrating flexible, scalable mental health infrastructures capable of withstanding future crises, ensuring continuity of care irrespective of external disruptions.
One cannot overlook the educational sector’s pivotal role, intricately entwined with psychological well-being during the pandemic. The closure of schools globally severed students from more than just academic instruction; it interrupted access to nutrition programs, peer socialization, and structured daily activities that are crucial for mental stability. The systematic review details emerging evidence that many children experienced increased feelings of loneliness and alienation during remote learning phases, underscoring the need to balance public health measures with psychosocial considerations in future emergency responses.
Resilience, an often-mentioned but complex construct, emerges as a critical theme in the reviewed literature. The authors explore protective factors fostering psychological endurance amidst uncertainty, ranging from individual traits like optimism to community resources such as peer support networks. The interplay between risk and resilience factors elucidated in this review offers optimism that children and adolescents can recover and adapt if supported adequately. This nuanced understanding challenges deterministic narratives about inevitable negative mental health trajectories post-pandemic.
Interestingly, cultural variations in psychological impact and response patterns appear throughout the systematic review’s cross-national data. Societal norms, familial roles, and governmental responses influenced how children internalized and coped with pandemic-related challenges. In some cultures, collective coping mechanisms and extended family structures mitigated isolation, whereas in others, individualistic tendencies exacerbated feelings of abandonment. These findings highlight the importance of culturally informed mental health frameworks that respect diverse coping modalities and community dynamics.
Looking ahead, the review advocates for longitudinal monitoring of affected cohorts to identify long-term consequences of the pandemic’s psychological toll. Early indications suggest potential for sustained anxiety, academic setbacks, and social reintegration difficulties that may persist well beyond the immediate crisis. The authors emphasize integrating mental health education into school curricula alongside robust support services to foster a generation that not only recovers but thrives. This preventive orientation aligns with emerging global calls to prioritize mental health as a fundamental component of public health.
Technological innovation also features prominently in the discourse, with the review illustrating how digital tools can serve both as risk factors and intervention platforms. Increased screen time and social media exposure correlated with higher anxiety levels, yet teletherapy and virtual support groups emerged as accessible resources for many youths. Balancing these dualities presents a contemporary challenge for clinicians and policymakers to harness technology’s benefits while mitigating its detriments.
In essence, this systematic review by Thiha and colleagues serves as a clarion call to the global community. It reveals that safeguarding youth mental health requires coordinated, multifaceted strategies encompassing education, family support, healthcare accessibility, and technological integration. Given that children and adolescents represent the bedrock of future societies, addressing their psychological needs post-pandemic is not merely an ethical imperative but a pragmatic investment in collective resilience.
Finally, the research underscores that the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic was a crucible moment, exposing systemic vulnerabilities and testing the psychological fabric of younger generations. The comprehensive, data-driven insights offered by this review provide a crucial foundation for informed action. Policymakers, educators, health professionals, and communities must heed these findings to foster environments conducive to healing, growth, and strengthened mental wellbeing for all children and adolescents worldwide.
Subject of Research: Psychological impact on children and adolescents during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic
Article Title: Exploring the psychological impact on children and adolescents during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic—a systematic review
Article References:
Thiha, N., Soe, P.P., Win, H.H. et al. Exploring the psychological impact on children and adolescents during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic—a systematic review. BMC Psychol 13, 842 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03165-2
Image Credits: AI Generated
