Changes in behavior and quality of life in German young children during the COVID-19 pandemic-results from the COVID kids bavaria study.

The COVID-19 pandemic with its containment measures such as closures of schools and daycare facilities led to numerous restrictions in daily life, putting developmental opportunities and health-related quality of life in children at risk. However, studies show that not every family was impacted equally by the pandemic and that this exceptional health and societal situation reinforced pre-existing health inequalities among the vulnerable. Our study aimed at analyzing changes in behavior and health-related quality of life of children attending elementary schools and daycare facilities in Bavaria, Germany in spring 2021. We also sought to identify associated factors contributing to inequalities in quality of life. Data from a multi-center, open cohort study ("COVID Kids Bavaria") conducted in 101 childcare facilities and 69 elementary schools across all electoral districts of Bavaria were analyzed. Children attending these educational settings (aged 3-10 years) were eligible for participation in a survey on changes in behavior and health-related quality of life. The KINDL Among respondents, a high percentage of parents reported changes in their children's eating and sleeping behavior, sports and outdoor activities as well as altered screen time. Health-related quality of life in KINDL These findings suggest a relevant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's behavior and health-related quality of life one year after the onset of the pandemic. Further analyses in large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to determine the effects of specific pandemic or crisis associated factors contributing to health inequalities.

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© 2023 Schillok, Coenen, Rehfuess, Kuhlmann, Matl, Kindermann, Maison, Eckert, von Both, Behrends, Früehwald, Neubert, Woelfle, Melter, Liese, Hübner, Klein, Kern and Jung-Sievers.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The study COVID Kids Bavaria was financed by the Bavarian Ministry of Research and Art. CK reports support from the Care-for-Rare Foundation. CJS reports involvement with other COVID-19 related studies such as the COSMO study, COVerCHILD (NUM) and others. ER reports involvement with other COVID-19 related studies, notably COVerCHILD, and having co-coordinated the German evidence- and consensus-based S3 guideline on schooling during COVID-19 as well as being a member of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Schooling during COVID-19. HS is a doctoral candidate in the Research Training Group “PrediktOren und Klinische Ergebnisse bei depressiven ErkrAnkungen in der hausärztLichen Versorgung (POKAL, DFG-GRK 2621)” (Predictors and Clinical Outcomes of Depressive Disorders in Primary Care) POKAL, a member of the German Research Foundation (DFG). UB is employed by the Department of Pediatrics, Kinderklinik München Schwabing, StKM GmbH und Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany. NM is employed by the Institute for Asthma- and Allergy Prevention (IAP), Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Munich, Germany. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.