Psychosocial impact of respiratory infectious disease pandemics on children: a systematic review

Objective: To examine the impact of respiratory infectious disease pandemics in the new millennium on mental health, behavioral responses, and parenting practices in children, and provide further intervention directions to mitigate negative effects of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods We conducted a systemic literature review of researches from January 2003 to May 2020 with three mainstream electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Quality of included studies were assessed using Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) according to different study design. Further directions were identified for developing appropriate interventions. Results Twenty-four studies conducted in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (n = 10), influenza A (H1N1) (n = 3), and COVID-19 (n = 11) pandemics met the inclusion criteria. Children showed emotional conditions such as anxiety, fear, and depression, while psychological responses varied across age and gender groups. Children with mental illness history experienced an exacerbation of psychological symptoms. The pandemics changed hygiene habits and learning styles, and led to the increased participation in unfavorable lifestyles. For families with pediatric patients, the pandemic decreased parents’ participation in providing family-centered care and threatened to supportive family relationship and effective parents-child communication. Conclusion The emerging virus outbreaks and subsequent disease-control measures have impacts on mental health status, behavioral responses, and parenting practices in children. In response to COVID-19, greater efforts taking into account children’s developmental stage should be made to implement evidence-based psychological interventions, enhance effective communication, and encourage collaboration.