Impact of Home Confinement on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: A National Survey

This study investigates the impact of home confinement on the mental health of Dominican children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 988 participants aged 3 to 17 years, whose parents or legal guardians completed a digital survey that included the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist-35 (PSC-35). Inclusion criteria required consent from guardians, while children with prior mental health diagnoses were ex-cluded. Data analysis employed Pearson's Chi-Square test, Fisher's Exact Test, Cramer's V Coefficient, and multiple response analysis. The findings revealed that 17.5% of children were at risk for cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral disorders, with specific risk percentages of 15.7% for attention issues, 13.2% for depression/anxiety, and 11% for behavioral problems. Statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were found be-tween the global PSC-35 score and factors such as sleep difficulties, COVID-19-related dreams, and boredom during confinement. These re-sults indicate a notable prevalence of mental health issues among minors in the Dominican Republic, highlighting excessive boredom, persistent fear, and sleep disturbances as critical indicators of potential mental de-terioration.