Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

The Impact on Children's Mental Health of School Closures to Prevent the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Version 1 : Received: 1 June 2020 / Approved: 2 June 2020 / Online: 2 June 2020 (14:58:33 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Ishimoto, Y.; Yamane, T.; Matsumoto, Y.; Takizawa, Y.; Kobayashi, K. The Impact of Gender Differences, School Adjustment, Social Interactions, and Social Activities on Emotional and Behavioral Reactions to the COVID-19 Pandemic among Japanese School Children. SSM - Mental Health 2022, 2, 100077, doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100077. Ishimoto, Y.; Yamane, T.; Matsumoto, Y.; Takizawa, Y.; Kobayashi, K. The Impact of Gender Differences, School Adjustment, Social Interactions, and Social Activities on Emotional and Behavioral Reactions to the COVID-19 Pandemic among Japanese School Children. SSM - Mental Health 2022, 2, 100077, doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100077.

Abstract

In Japan, schools were suddenly closed all over the country with one month left at the end of the school year to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections. Although previous studies have shown that quarantine and isolation have a negative impact on mental health, the impact of school closure on children's mental health is not clear. This study examined mental health indicators, such as emotional symptoms, in addition to behavior during school closure and anxiety after school resumes, among children in three primary schools for which survey data existed in December before school closure. No cases of infection have been confirmed in the area where the school was located at the time of the survey. As a result, anxiety about whether they would be able to return to their normal routine after school resumed was associated with mental health. In addition, there was a worsening of emotional symptoms in those who were in medium group of school adjustment as of December.

Keywords

Covid-19; School Closure; Elementary School; Emotional Symptoms; Japan

Subject

Social Sciences, Psychology

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