Protective and risk activities for emotional and behavioural well-being of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown

Background The lockdown imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic brought deep changes in the daily life of Italian children and adolescents, increasing the time spent at home. This study aims to explore how activities that children and adolescents carried out at home during the lockdown were related to their emotional and behavioural well-being. Method Parents completed an anonymous online survey on how much time their children and adolescents dedicated to social networks, solitary screen time, play time and to a series of parent-child dyadic activities. They also reported on their offspring's emotional difficulties and behavioural problems. Results The use of social networks had a negative impact on children's emotional difficulties, while it promoted well-being in adolescents. Pertaining to solitary screen activities, these were associated with more behavioural problems in both children and adolescents. Regarding parent-child dyadic activities, get along with the parent was associated with less emotional difficulties and behavioural problems in children and with less behavioural problems in adolescents. Furthermore, for adolescents, the more they talked with the parent, the less behavioural problems they evidenced. Conclusion The current study may help to identify activities that could be promoted and those that should be limited to effectively menage home time, in order to ultimately safeguard the emotional and behavioural well-being of children and adolescents.

Automated summary

This study found that the use of social networks had a negative impact on children's emotional difficulties but promoted well-being in adolescents. Solitary screen activities were associated with more behavioral problems in both children and adolescents. Parent-child dyadic activities were linked to less emotional difficulties and behavioral problems in children, and less behavioral problems in adolescents.