There is considerable debate about whether the mental health of children and adolescents has been affected by the disruptions and restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 53 studies of more than 40,000 children and adolescents up to 19 years of age in twelve countries finds an increase in depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This increase is particularly found among girls, those from relatively higher income backgrounds and those living in North America and Europe. The research, led by researcher Sherry Madigan from the University of Calgary in Canada, was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

It also found that anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents increased slightly during the pandemic, although there was some evidence that the increase was greater in those from relatively higher income backgrounds.

The greater changes in depression and anxiety symptoms for children from higher income strata could be related, according to the researchers, to greater access to digital devices and their known association with depression. It is also possible that these children had more disruptions to their routines, such as cancellation of extracurricular activities.

Finally, the study found—like other studies related to mental health—an increase in eating disorders and emergency department visits for suicide attempts and suicidal ideation during the pandemic.

The full publication is available on the website