INTRODUCTION:

Child development includes the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and end of adolescence period. Middle childhood ranges from six to thirteen are the most crucial years of child’s life, ranging from the starts of some sorts of formal school period to the beginning of puberty, and also child starts to develop a sense of self. Adolescence is the stage of life that typically starts around the time puberty hits, all the way up until legal adulthood. The individual human progresses from dependency to increasing autonomy.¹

Children are highly dependent on adults given their limited autonomy. Children rely on adult’s support in everyday tasks but also for emotion regulative processes. Children might take less or inconsistent support. Young children might have conflicts to understand the complexity of the situation and also changes in everyday life due to their limited cognitive abilities.²

Children may feel to nervous or reluctant to return to school, especially if they have been learning at home for months and may also get difficult being physically distanced from friends and teachers while at school. We could encourage them to think about other ways to bond and stay connected. Reassure children about safety measures in place to help protect students and teachers and remind children that they can also prevent germs spreading by washing their hands with soap and coughing or sneezing into their elbow. It’s important to be calm and proactive in your conversations with children and their emotions will change regularly.³

The sudden change from physical school attendance and regular interaction with peers and teachers to online learning and quarantining at home was a difficult adjustment for many learners across grade levels. The significant of attending school in person is also highlighted by the fact that many children and youth also receive mental health services while they are physically present at school.⁴

The COVID-19 pandemic has kept a majority of children indoors for the last 18 months. With schools closed and little to no outdoor activity which may leads to lack of social skills and also routine has been affected due to their lockdown life-style. Staying at home had impacted interpersonal skills and communication of children.⁵ The nature and extent of impact on this age group depend on many vulnerability factors such as the developmental age, current educational status, having special needs, pre-existing mental health condition, being economically under privileged and child/ parent being quarantined due to infection or fear of infection.⁶

It is important that the most potent and well-protected countries are the most frightening, pathetic victims because of sudden pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease. The greatest challenge faced by the world now is surviving the pandemic, not just with excellent physical health but with blooming mental fitness. No matter what will happen tomorrow until we find a remedy for the virus. The global structure is witnessing a sudden fall down, and dominating countries locked down themselves without challenging the COVID-19 pandemic.⁷

Schools have faced extraordinary obstacles as they sought to quickly transfer classrooms to an online format, ensure fair access for all students, support instructors' and students' educational requirements, and create plans amidst significant uncertainty in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has generated a lot of anxiety, stress, and grief. These stressors can cause mental health problems for anyone, and they can trigger acute symptoms in persons who already have mental health problems.⁸

As per global health history [Nov 22, 2021] corona virus cases were 257,832,881. Death occurred due to COVID-19 were 5,168,069. And recovered cases were 232,756,149. In India total covid cases were 34,518,901. Total deaths were 465,911. And total recovered cases were 33,934,547. And new recovered cases were 12,510. Active cases were 118,443. Critical cases were 8,944.⁹

In Karnataka health history, confirmed cases were 2,930,529. And new cases on Nov 22, 2021 were 1,065. Active cases were 22,048. Recovered cases were 2,871,448. Fresh recovered cases were 1,486. Deaths occurred due to COVID-19 were 37,035.¹⁰

Between [June 9 and June 18, 2021] 769 youngsters under the age of 18 tested positive in the district. There are 301 of them who are between the ages of 0 and 10. In the previous ten days, the Mysuru district has recorded approximately 7,600 Covid-19 cases, with nearly to 10% of new cases being under the age of 18.¹¹ Total sample tested were 2,464,594. Total positive cases were 179,564. Total discharges were 176,935. Total deaths were 2,429. On [Nov 22, 2021] positive cases were 48 and discharge was 4.¹²

A web based cross- sectional survey was conducted to know the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being of students in an Italian university. After the first lockdown they have conducted cross sectional survey through the administration of questionnaire on the personal websites of students. They have used the patient-health-engagement-scale, self-rating-anxiety-scale, self-rating-depression-scale to assess the depression symptoms, and anxiety symptoms of students. Data was analyzed by using descriptive analysis, univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Out of 501 subjects, 35.33 percent of whom were anxious and 72.93 percent of whom were depressed. Despite the fact that over 70% of respondents were unable to physically see friends and partners, over 90% of respondents had a good knowledge of the preventive measures. Around 55% of students would have agreed to participate. Much more can be done to combat the pandemic. To regulate and lessen the burden of psychological issues, it is critical to research the most effective interventions, identify susceptible subgroups, and prepare for acute and long-term psychological care.¹⁴

A systematic survey design study was conducted to know the impact of COVID-19 and mental health of students in Maharashtra, India. COVID - 19 has a personal, social, and psychological impact on the mental health of students aged 16 to 25 years old, according to this study. Data was collected mainly through personal contact and manually. They have conducted online survey to consider the freedom of response and confidentiality. Questions were prepared based on the demographic and perception about the impact of COVID-19. Analysis process was done through descriptive and parametric statistics and based on observing the trends of percentages. The finally result of the study includes compared to male students, female students are more concerned about health, and future and even more prone to get psychological issues compared to male students. The perception of family has shifted from one of a source of support to one of a constraint. Although the advantages of a collectivist society are undeniable.¹³

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of school children in selected schools of mysuru.

2. To determine the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health with selected personal variables.

3. To find the association between impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health with selected personal variables.

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁: There will be statistically significant association between impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health with selected personal variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research approach:

Descriptive research approach.

Research design:

Descriptive research design.

Variables of the study:

Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of school children.

Sources of data:

Setting

A setting for the present study is St. Mary’s High School at Mysuru.

Population:

School children in the age group of 12 to 15 years

Method of collection of data

Sample and sapling criteria

Inclusion criteria for sampling

Children who are:

· Within the age group of 12 to 15 years in selected schools at mysuru.

· Available during the period of data collection.

· Willing to participate in study.

Exclusion criteria for sampling:

· Children who are:

· Not available during data collection

· Children who were not willing to participate in study.

Sampling technique:

Non probability convenience sampling technique.

Sampling size:

The samples of present study consist of 50 school children with in the age group of 12 to 15 years in a selected school at Mysuru.

Data collection technique:

SECTION A:

It consists of personal proforma to elicit the demographic data like age in years, gender, class of study, type of family, family income per month and previous exposure to health education regarding impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health.

SECTION B:

It consists of criterion checklist for impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health.

RESULTS:

TABLE: 1Frequency and percentage distribution of school children according to their selected personal variables. n=50

Sample no.	Sample characteristics	Frequency (F)	Percentage (%)
1	Age in years
	1.1 12-13	21	42
	1.2 14-15	29	58
2	Gender
	2.1 Male	28	56
	2.2 female	22	44
3	Class of study
	3.1 8th standard	24	48
	3.2 9th standard	21	42
	3.3 10th standard	5	10
4	Type of Family
	4.1 Joint	20	40
	4.2 Nuclear	30	60
5	Family income per month in rupees
	5.1 <20000	19	38
	5.2 20000-30000	25	50
	5.3 >30000	6	12
6.	Previous exposure to health education regarding impact of covid-19 and lockdown on mental health
	6.1 Yes	31	62
	6.2 No	19	38

Table: 2 Mean, median, Range and standard deviation scores of school children regarding impact of COVID-19.

Mean, median, range and standard deviation scores of school children regarding impact of COVID-19.
			n=50
Mean	Median	Range	Standard deviation
65.3	16	13-22	± 3.9

Table: 3 Classification of impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health among school children.

n=50

Classification	Frequency	Percentage
Positive impact (0-13)	2	4
Negative impact (14-26)	48	96

Figure: 3 Number of school children and total scores according to their classification of impact regarding COVID-19 lockdown on mental health.

Tabel: 4 Chi-square value of school children regarding impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health with their selected personal variables. n=50

Sample no.	Personal variables	Below median	Above median	Chi square
1	Age in years			1.36
	1.1 12-13	6	15
	1.2 14-15	13	16
2	Gender			0.14
	2.1 Male	10	18
	2.2 Female	9	13
3	Class of study			1.92
	3.1 8^th standard	12	12
	3.2 9^th and 10^thstandard	8	18
4	Type of Family			1.83
	4.1 Joint	13	17
	4.2 Nuclear	6	14
5	Family income per month in rupees			1.88
	5.1 <20000	5	14
	5.2 20000-30000	9	10
	5.3 >30000	5	7
6	Previous exposure to health education regarding impact of covid-19 and lockdown on mental health
	6.1 Yes	10	21	1.11
	6.2 No	9	10	1.11

χ2(1) =3.84, χ2(2) =5.89, p<0.05; Not significant

DISCUSSION:

1. Findings related to selected personal variables.

The findings of the present study showed that majority (58%) of the school children were in the age group of 14-15 years, majority (56%) of the school children were male, majority (48%) of the school children belongs to 8^th standard, majority (60%) of the school children belongs to nuclear family. Majority (50%) of school children of their parents will get the family income per month is 20,000-30,000/-. Majority (62%) of school children had previous exposure to health education regarding impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health. Similar study findings supported.^{13, 16, 17}

2. Findings related to classification of impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health among school children.

No study have been supported to classification of impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health among school children.

3. Findings related to association scores of school children regarding impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health with their selected personal variables.

The data represented in the tabel 4 shows that, the computed chi square values to ascertain the scores of school children regarding impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health, there is no any significant association with their selected personal variables. Hence it is inferred that, there is no association between the scores of school children regarding impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health with their selected personal variables. No study have been supported.

CONCLUSION:

The results of the present study revealed that majority of the school children had negative impact regarding COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health. Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of school children were not found to be significant with the personal variables. The COVID-19 related interruptions need to be focused some key challenges and measures to control and manage COVID-19 crisis. Health care professionals play a vital role in educating and providing basic health care services to the school children.

REFERENCES:

1. Child development -Wikipedia. https://en.m.Wikipedia.org>wiki.

2. Natalie Christner, Samuel Essler, Astrid Hazzam, Markus Paulus. Children’s psychological wellbeing and problem behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. June 23 2021. https://osf.io/9bj231.

3. American psychological association. Student mental health during and after COVID-19; How can schools identify youth who need support. September 22, 2020. https://www.apa.org>.

4. COVID-19 Worldometer (2021). https://worldometer.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics.

5. COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka Karunadu.gov.in/htw(accessed).

6. Education world; 769 children affected with COVID-19 in mysuru. June 21 2021. https://www.educationworld.in>.

7. COVID-19 information page mysuru. https://mysuu.nic.in (accessed).

8. Kshipra Moghe, Disha Kotecha, Manjusha Patil. COVID-19 and mental health; A study of its impact on students. August 11, 2020. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6220-4533.

9. Leonardo Villani, Roberta Pastorino, Enrico Molinari, Franco anell. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well being of students in an Italian university. April 2021. https://doi.org>/

10. COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka Karunadu.gov.in/htw(accessed).

11. Education world; 769 children affected with COVID-19 in mysuru. June 21 2021. https://www.educationworld.in>.

12. COVID-19 information page mysuru. https://mysuu.nic.in (accessed).

13. Kshipra Moghe, Disha Kotecha, Manjusha Patil. COVID-19 and mental health; A study of its impact on students. August 11, 2020. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6220-4533.

14. Leonardo Villani, Roberta Pastorino, Enrico Molinari, Franco anell. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well being of students in an Italian university. April 2021. https://doi.org>/

15. Cheri Mathews John, Deepa Elizabeth Mathew, Natasha Susan John, Joe Johnson. Impact of 100 days of COVID-19 lockdown on the emotional health of School Children. September 2020. https://doi.org/10.212031.

16. Janula Raju, Raju Asirvatham. Study to assess the level of anxiety associated with COVID-19 among high school students. Black Sea Journal of Health Science. 2021; 4(1):1-5. https://orcid.org.

17. S. Dhanya, J. Shivani. To assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education of adolescent children. Journal of Tianjin University Science and Technology. 2021; 54(4).

Received on 11.07.2024 Modified on 10.08.2024

Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2024; 12(3):131-135.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2024.00030