SYDNEY, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- An Aussie research released to the public on Monday showed that COVID-19 pandemic could bring indirect negative impacts on children's mental well-being, academic results and physical health.
The research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), was led by Australia's Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI). It synthesised the literature on previous pandemics, epidemics and natural disasters, and the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Lead author of the paper Sharon Goldfeld from MCRI said children were facing a "generation-defining disruption" with public health restrictions and interventions, such as online learning, increased screen time, reduced access to healthcare, less community sport and less outside time.
"The public health measures have resulted in positive benefits for some, while others have been adversely and inequitably impacted," she said.
"Children and adolescents experiencing adversity before the pandemic have been disproportionately affected, potentially leading to a widening of disparities in child health, wellbeing, and developmental outcomes."
Researchers said mental health problems are one of the major impacts, as research from some other countries also reported deterioration in the mental health of some children and adolescents.
A separate MCRI-led study found some children and adolescents infected with the virus experienced stigma and mental health distress such as difficulty sleeping, having nightmares and withdrawing from friends.
The research indicates that the academic achievement gap also grows at triple the rate during remote learning.
A survey of 5,000 teachers cited in the research found only 35 percent of them reported their students were learning effectively during lockdowns, with student engagement further compromised among those experiencing adversity.
Goldfeld said children with existing disabilities report increased trouble with virtual learning, and it will be difficult to predict how long it will take for those with lost learning to catch-up.
The research also found reduced family income or job losses, parental mental health and stresses have affected the nutrition, safety and care of children.
"Job loss and reduced income is a known risk factor for harsh parenting and maltreatment ... School closures have increased the amount of time children spend with violent caregivers without access to the usual means of escape," Goldfeld said.
The research concluded that children requiring extra care and intervention as a result of the pandemic need to be urgently identified so that early intervention programs can be targeted towards them. ■