The ARCH Lab recently published a study, titled “Changes in Psychological Distress in Children With Physical Illness and Their Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic” in the journal Child: Care, Health and Development.
This study looked at how the mental health of children with chronic physical illnesses (like diabetes or arthritis), participating in the longitudinal MY LIFE Study, and their parents changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers followed 134 families in Ontario, Canada, collecting data before the pandemic and during two later periods in 2021 and 2022.
The main finding was that both children and their parents experienced more psychological distress (such as feeling anxious, hopeless, or overwhelmed) during the pandemic compared to before it started. For parents, distress peaked in 2021 and slightly improved by 2022, but still remained higher than pre-pandemic levels. For children, distress steadily increased throughout the pandemic.
Several factors influenced these changes in mental health. Parents who were more stressed or had mental health issues themselves were more likely to feel worse over time. Parents of younger children also reported higher distress. For children, those who were older, had a mental illness, or had more severe physical disabilities experienced more distress. Interestingly, children from higher-income families also showed more distress, possibly because they lost access to more activities and support systems during lockdowns.
The study highlights how the pandemic added extra emotional strain to families already dealing with serious health challenges. It suggests that healthcare systems should provide better mental health support for these families, especially during crises. The authors recommend more integrated care that addresses both physical and mental health needs, and more support for parents, who play a key role in their children’s well-being.
