Freda MF, Scandurra C, Auriemma E, Guarino A, Lemmo D, Martino ML, Nunziata F, Maldonato NM, Continisio GI. Long-COVID in children: An exploratory case-control study from a bio-psycho-social perspective.
J Psychosom Res 2024;
176:111564. [PMID:
38100898 DOI:
10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111564]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine psychosocial differences between children with Long-COVID Syndrome (LCS) and two control groups (i.e., children who did not have COVID-19 and children who had previously had COVID-19 but did not develop LCS) from a bio-psycho-social and psychosomatic perspective. To classify children in these three groups, we examined the percentage of children meeting criteria for LCS, the type, frequency, perceived severity of symptoms, and their prevalence compared with children who never had SARS-CoV-2 infection.
METHODS
Data were collected from 198 Italian mothers of children aged 4 to 13 years using a cross-sectional web-based case-control survey. Of these, 105 were mothers of children who had contracted SARS-CoV-2 and 94 were mothers of children who had previously had COVID-19. Information was collected on the type and frequency of symptoms commonly referred to as "Long-COVID symptoms" and psychosocial dimensions (i.e., maternal and child health anxiety, COVID-19 anxiety, adjustment, and child deprivation). Descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, Student's T-Test, and analyses of variance were performed.
RESULTS
29 children (15% of the total sample) developed LCS, mostly in the neurological/neuropsychiatric domain (59%), and of mild intensity. Regarding psychosocial and psychological dimensions, maternal health anxiety, child deprivation, and fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection differed between groups, with the first two dimensions higher in children with LCS than in controls and the latter lower in children with LCS than in controls.
CONCLUSION
This study sheds light on the need of integrating a psychosocial approach into the medical care of children with LCS and their caregivers.
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