Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with and without risk for neurodevelopmental impairments.

Ehrler, Melanie; Werninger, Isabelle; Schnider, Barbara; Eichelberger, Dominique; Naef, Nadja; Disselhoff, Vera; Kretschmar, Oliver; Hagmann, Cornelia; Latal, Beatrice; Wehrle, Flavia M

AIM To examine how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts child well-being and family functioning, particularly among children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. METHODS Families of 73 typically-developing children, 54 children born very preterm (VPT), and 73 children with congenital heart disease (CHD) from two prospective cohort studies were assessed prior to (mean age: 10.4 (SD: 1.2) years) and during (mean age: 12.8 (SD: 2.0) years) the pandemic, more specifically, in April/May 2020. Child well-being and family functioning were assessed with validated, parent-reported questionnaires and tested with linear mixed models. Group comparison of child distress and parental concerns related to medical implications of COVID-19 and homeschooling, assessed with 5-point Likert scales, was done with Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS Children's psychological well-being and family functioning (both, P<0.001) decreased significantly during the pandemic, irrespective of group. Children with CHD were reported to be more concerned about becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 than were others. Child distress due to homeschooling and parents' concerns about children's academic achievements were significantly higher in VPT and CHD children than in typically-developing peers (all P<0.001). CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacts the whole family and leads to additional distress in families with children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. These families should receive individualized counseling and assistance from health care providers and schools during the pandemic.