scholarly journals Consequences of COVID-19 Confinement on Anxiety, Sleep and Executive Functions of Children and Adolescents in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío Lavigne-Cerván ◽  
Borja Costa-López ◽  
Rocío Juárez-Ruiz de Mier ◽  
Marta Real-Fernández ◽  
Marta Sánchez-Muñoz de León ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Present Sample ◽  
Relevant Effect ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Positive Correlations

Children and adolescents are not indifferent to the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to be forced to live in confinement. The change in life to which they have been abruptly subjected forces us to understand the state of their mental health in order to adequately address both their present and future needs. The present study was carried out with the intention of studying the consequences of confinement on anxiety, sleep routines and executive functioning of 1,028 children and adolescents, aged from 6 to 18 years, residing in Spain to; assess if there are differences regarding these consequences in terms of sex and age; how anxiety affects executive functioning in males and females; and to examine the possible correlations between the measured variables. For this purpose, an online questionnaire containing five sections was designed: the first section gathers information on sociodemographic and health data, while the following sections gather information from different standardized scales which measure anxiety, sleep and executive functions, whose items were adapted in order to be completed by parents, and/or legal guardians. The statistical analyzes carried out highlights significant differences in executive functioning between males and females. In turn, in regards to age, greater difficulties were detected in anxiety in the 9 to 12 age group and greater sleep disturbances between 13 and 18 year olds. On the other hand, significant differences were found in intra-sexual executive functioning depending on whether they presented greater or lesser anxiety, with executive functioning being more tendentiously maladjusted in males than in females, revealing a significantly relevant effect size (p = 0.001; ω2 = 0.27 BRIEF-2; ω2 = 0.19 BDEFS-CA; 95%). Positive correlations are obtained between state anxiety and sleep and executive functioning alterations. Finally, through Path Analysis, it is verified that state anxiety is the variable with the greatest weight within the model that would explain the alteration in the executive functioning of the present sample.

scholarly journals Sleep quality and anxiety symptoms in Egyptian children and adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Sayed El Refay ◽  
Shaimaa A. Hashem ◽  
Hend H. Mostafa ◽  
Iman H. Kamel ◽  
Lobna S. Sherif
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Egyptian Children

Abstract Background Coronavirus Disease Pandemic 2019 has a pervasive effect on all health aspects include psychological and mental health. This study aimed to assess the hidden stressful impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Egyptian children and adolescents’ lifestyles 2 months after lockdown in Egypt by detecting symptoms of anxiety and sleep disorders. Online questionnaire was used by snowball sampling approach 2 months after lockdown targeting children and adolescents. Results The overall mean Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children score (SDSC) in participated groups was 44.6 ± 11.72. Of 765 participants 502 (65.6%) showed the symptoms suggestive of sleep disorder. Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep were the most common among participants as 168 (33.4%) of them were suffering from it while 79 (15.7%) children were suffering from excessive somnolence. Linear stepwise regression revealed that anxiety score, understanding safety measures, and following strict quarantine measures significantly predicted SDSC (p = 0.001, 0.009, 0.046). Significant positive correlations were found between SDSC and extra screen usage, understanding safety and quarantine measures, anxiety signs, and change in child lifestyle with (p = 0.029, 0.010, 0.001 and 0.001) sequentially. Significant positive correlation was found between family income affection, SDSC, and anxiety with p value (00.001, 00.4). Conclusion Child deprived of his or her normal lifestyle is vulnerable to develop anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances. Low income, extra screen time, and restricted quarantine measures are all contributing factors that influence children and adolescent’s mental health.

Executive Functions and Their Relation to Sleep Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Preschoolers

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 769-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Landry-Roy ◽  
Annie Bernier ◽  
Jocelyn Gravel ◽  
Miriam H. Beauchamp
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Mild Tbi

AbstractObjectives:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during childhood is known to impact children’s executive functioning. However, few studies have focused specifically on executive functioning after preschool TBI. TBI has also been associated with sleep disturbances, which are known to impair executive functions in healthy children. The aim of this study was to investigate executive functions in preschoolers with mild TBI, and to determine the role of sleep in the links between TBI and executive functioning.Methods:The sample was drawn from a longitudinal study and included 167 children, aged 18 to 60 months, divided into 2 groups: children with accidental mild TBI (n=84) and typically developing children (n=83). Children were assessed 6 months post-injury on executive function measures (inhibition and cognitive flexibility) and sleep measures (actigraphy data and parental rating of sleep problems).Results:The two groups did not differ in their executive abilities. However, relative to controls, children with mild TBI and shorter nighttime sleep duration or increased sleep problems exhibited poorer executive functions.Conclusions:These results support a “double hazard” effect, whereby the combination of sleep disturbances and mild TBI results in poorer executive functions. The findings highlight the importance of assessing and monitoring the quality of sleep even after mild head injuries. Poor sleep may place children at risk for increased cognitive difficulties. (JINS, 2018,24, 769–780)

scholarly journals Implications of the Online Teaching Model Derived from the COVID-19 Lockdown Situation for Anxiety and Executive Functioning in Spanish Children and Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10456
Author(s):  
Rocío Lavigne-Cervan ◽  
Borja Costa-López ◽  
Rocío Juárez-Ruiz de Mier ◽  
Marta Sánchez-Muñoz de León ◽  
Marta Real-Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
The State ◽  
Teaching Model ◽  
Effects On Children ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Emotional Effects

Given the seriousness of the existing situation regarding the mental health of children and adolescents relating to the confinement period imposed due to COVID-19, we conducted this study to describe the effects of the confinement on state anxiety and executive functioning dimensions in a period of online educational modality. A sample of 953 children and adolescents was assessed. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the State Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and the Behavioral Evaluation of Executive Function (BRIEF-2) scale were applied. The analysis of the results indicates that 68.8% of children and adolescents presented medium–high levels of anxiety. Regarding sex, females showed higher levels of anxiety and worse levels of executive functioning. Although the group aged 11 to 18 years showed methodologically higher state anxiety (p = 0.041) than the group aged 6 to 10 years, the difference was not clinically relevant (δ = −0.113). The state anxiety variable was also correlated positively and significantly to the three executive functioning dimensions explored. In conclusion, it seems evident that COVID-19 lockdowns could have psychological and emotional effects on children and adolescents.

scholarly journals Study Protocol: The influence of Running Therapy on executive functions and sleep of prisoners

F1000Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Meijers ◽  
Joke Harte ◽  
Gerben Meynen ◽  
Pim Cuijpers
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Baseline Measurement ◽  
Positive Effect

Background: Executive dysfunction appears to be related to increased recidivism. Of note is that sleep disturbances, which are highly prevalent in prisons, may attenuate executive functions. Thus, improving executive functions, either directly or indirectly through the improvement of sleep, may reduce recidivism. It is hypothesised that physical exercise, in the form of Running Therapy, has a direct positive effect on executive functions as well as an indirect effect through the improvement of sleep.Methods/Design: Seventy two (N = 72) detainees in various penitentiary institutions in the Netherlands will be recruited in this study. A baseline measurement, including six neuropsychological tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), an assessment of sleep quality and duration using the Actiwatch (Actiwatch 2, Philips Respironics, Murrysville, PA, USA) and various other measurements will be administered before the start of the treatment. After 3 months of Running Therapy, participants will be assessed again with the same tests for neuropsychological and physical functioning. Primary outcomes are executive functioning and various sleep variables.Discussion: This study will be the first to investigate the possible influence of Running Therapy on the cognitive functioning, sleep and aggression in prisoners.

Social-Emotional Problems in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children from an Executive and Theory-of-Mind Perspective

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Th. W. M. Vissers ◽  
Daan Hermans
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Hard Of Hearing ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Emotional Problems ◽  
Inner Speech ◽  
Social Emotional Development ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Hearing Children

The implications of a hearing loss can go far beyond the linguistic domain. Several studies have revealed that deaf and hard-of-hearing children are at risk in their social-emotional development. This chapter argues that executive functions and theory of mind are two central underlying cognitive factors in people’s social-emotional functioning. We briefly review what is currently known about executive functioning and theory-of-mind development in deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents and then present a cognitive model with a central role for inner speech in relation to executive functioning and theory of mind. We hypothesize that inner speech both enables and urges the regulation of oneself (executive function) and also the mentalization of one’s own and others’ inner worlds (theory of mind). We discuss the implications for assessing and treating social-emotional problems in deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents.

scholarly journals Effects of methylphenidate on executive functioning in children and adolescents with ADHD after long‐term use: a randomized, placebo‐controlled discontinuation study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul T. Rosenau ◽  
Thaïra J. C. Openneer ◽  
Anne‐Flore M. Matthijssen ◽  
Gigi H. H. Loo‐Neus ◽  
Jan K. Buitelaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Children And Adolescents

scholarly journals Assessment of new-onset depression and anxiety associated with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Hurissi ◽  
Ethar Abu-jabir ◽  
Amnah Mohammed ◽  
Mashael Mahnashi ◽  
Sana Alharbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Arabian Population ◽  
New Onset

Abstract Background Psychological disorders are common among individuals who experienced COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that females report higher depression and anxiety than males. The present study aims to test the differences in depression and anxiety between males and females who have experienced COVID-19. This a descriptive, observational, comparative study, among Saudi Arabian population. A total of 686 participants have been recruited. Participants completed an online questionnaire that contains questions about sociodemographic, COVID-19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure anxiety and depression, respectively. Results Twenty-six percent of the participants were excluded and our final sample consisted of 507 participants (median age 23; 65% females). Of the final sample, 23% (118) have been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. There is no significant difference in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores between COVID-19- positive and COVID-19-negative populations. However, females who have experienced COVID-19 reported significantly higher GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores compared to males. Conclusion The results of our study show that females are significantly at a higher risk for depression and anxiety as a result of COVID-19 infection compared to males. Further epidemiological studies are required for a better understanding of this correlation.

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