Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Wang G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7124694 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Our main aim was to examine the evidence of the effects of coronavirus disease confinement on the sleep of children aged 12 years and younger. A systematic review was conducted following the recommendations for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. MEDLINE, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica Database, Psychological Information Database, and Web Of Science were systematically searched between the period of January 2020 and March 2021. The quality assessment was analysed with the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale and the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. The appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies was applied to cross-sectional studies and each longitudinal study was assessed with the critical appraisal skills programme. Data analysis was carried out through a narrative review. Eight studies were included in the review. Seven studies reported changes in sleep routines and five studies focused on sleep disturbances during confinement. The most important findings were a longer duration of sleep time, an increase in sleep latency, and daytime sleepiness. Whether or not the adverse changes to sleep patterns and bedtime routines seen during the home confinement period have any long-term consequences for children's sleep and daytime functioning remains unknown.
| S-EPMC8810276 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Digital collaborative storytelling can be supported by an online learning-management system like Moodle, encouraging prosocial behaviors and shared representations. This study investigated children's storytelling and collaborative behaviors during an online storytelling activity throughout the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 home confinement in Spain. From 1st to 5th grade of primary school, one-hundred-sixteen students conducted weekly activities of online storytelling as an extracurricular project of a school in Madrid. Facilitators registered participants' platform use and collaboration. Stories were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the Bears Family Story Analysis System. Three categories related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were added to the story content analysis. The results indicate that primary students worked collaboratively in an online environment, with some methodology adaptations to 1st and 2nd grade. Story lengths tended to be reduced with age, while cohesion and story structure showed stable values in all grades. All stories were balanced in positive and negative contents, especially in characters' behavior and relationships, while story problems remained at positive solution levels. In addition, the pandemic theme emerged directly or indirectly in only 15% of the stories. The findings indicate the potential of the online collaborative storytelling activities as a distance-education tool in promoting collaboration and social interactions.
| S-EPMC8700547 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceTime spent in outdoor activities has decreased owing to home confinement for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Concerns have been raised about whether home confinement may have worsened the burden of myopia owing to substantially decreased time spent outdoors and increased screen time at home.ObjectiveTo investigate the refractive changes and prevalence of myopia in school-aged children during the COVID-19 home confinement.Design, setting, and participantsA prospective cross-sectional study using school-based photoscreenings in 123 535 children aged 6 to 13 years from 10 elementary schools in Feicheng, China, was conducted. The study was performed during 6 consecutive years (2015-2020). Data were analyzed in July 2020.ExposuresNoncycloplegic photorefraction was examined using a photoscreener device.Main outcomes and measuresThe spherical equivalent refraction was recorded for each child and the prevalence of myopia for each age group during each year was calculated. The mean spherical equivalent refraction and prevalence of myopia were compared between 2020 (after home confinement) and the previous 5 years for each age group.ResultsOf the 123 535 children included in the study, 64 335 (52.1%) were boys. A total of 194 904 test results (389 808 eyes) were included in the analysis. A substantial myopic shift (approximately -0.3 diopters [D]) was found in the 2020 school-based photoscreenings compared with previous years (2015-2019) for younger children aged 6 (-0.32 D), 7 (-0.28 D), and 8 (-0.29 D) years. The prevalence of myopia in the 2020 photoscreenings was higher than the highest prevalence of myopia within 2015-2019 for children aged 6 (21.5% vs 5.7%), 7 (26.2% vs 16.2%), and 8 (37.2% vs 27.7%) years. The differences in spherical equivalent refraction and the prevalence of myopia between 2020 and previous years were minimal in children aged 9 to 13 years.Conclusions and relevanceHome confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be associated with a significant myopic shift for children aged 6 to 8 years according to 2020 school-based photoscreenings. However, numerous limitations warrant caution in the interpretation of these associations, including use of noncycloplegic refractions and lack of orthokeratology history or ocular biometry data. Younger children's refractive status may be more sensitive to environmental changes than older ages, given the younger children are in a critical period for the development of myopia.
| S-EPMC7809617 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC7474806 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundStudies have reported that Covid-19 home-quarantine periods have had mostly negative psychological impact on children with ASD and their families. Here we examined parent perceived impact of a 6-week quarantine period imposed in Israel at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, in mid-March 2020.MethodsAn anonymous online questionnaire was completed by parents of 268 children with ASD. Parents rated deterioration/improvement in their child's behaviors, abilities, mood, sleep, and anxiety along with changes in their own mood, sleep, parenting skills, and family relationships. We performed t-tests and ANOVA analyses to assess the significance of perceived impact on each domain and potential differences in the impact across families with children of different ages, genders, and levels of required support as well as families that experienced different magnitudes of economic hardships.ResultsParents reported significant deterioration in their mood and sleep along with significant improvements in relationships with their spouse and child with ASD, and in their parenting skills. Parents also reported significant increases in the severity of tantrums, anxiety, and restricted and repetitive behavior symptoms along with significant improvements in social and communication abilities of their child with ASD. Ratings were significantly lower in families of ASD children who regularly require more support and in families that experienced economic hardships.ConclusionsWhile periods of home-quarantine create numerous hardships for families of children with ASD, they may also offer an opportunity for improving parenting skills, family relationships, and children's social communication abilities with potential relevance for improving remote services.
| S-EPMC9176182 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AimsThe utilization of remote monitoring platforms was recommended amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The HeartLogic index combines multiple implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) sensors and has proved to be a predictor of impending heart failure (HF) decompensation. We examined how multiple ICD sensors behave in the periods of anticipated restrictions pertaining to physical activity.MethodsThe HeartLogic feature was active in 349 ICD and cardiac resynchronization therapy ICD patients at 20 Italian centers. The period from 1 January to 19 July 2020, was divided into three phases: pre-lockdown (weeks 1-11), lockdown (weeks 12-20), post-lockdown (weeks 21-29).ResultsImmediately after the implementation of stay-at-home orders (week 12), we observed a significant drop in median activity level whereas there was no difference in the other contributing parameters. The median composite HeartLogic index increased at the end of the Lockdown. The weekly rate of alerts was significantly higher during the lockdown (1.56 alerts/week/100 pts, 95%CI: 1.15-2.06; IRR = 1.71, p = 0.014) and post-lockdown (1.37 alerts/week/100 pts, 95%CI: 0.99-1.84; IRR = 1.50, p = 0.072) than that reported in pre-lockdown (0.91 alerts/week/100 pts, 95%CI: 0.64-1.27). However, the median duration of alert state and the maximum index value did not change among phases, as well as the proportion of alerts followed by clinical actions at the centers and the proportion of alerts fully managed remotely.ConclusionsDuring the lockdown, the system detected a significant drop in the median activity level and generated a higher rate of alerts suggestive of worsening of the HF status.
| S-EPMC8772791 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundLiterature shows that home confinement during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected sleep. However, such information regarding subjects having Parkinson's disease (PD) is unavailable.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire, developed and validated by experts. PD subjects from nine centers across India were included. Questionnaire assessed presence as well as change in sleep-related parameters and PD symptoms during home confinement. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and REM sleep behavior disorder (REMBD) was diagnosed using validated questionnaire. Additionally, changes in physical activity, adoption of new hobbies during home confinement and perceived quality of life were assessed.ResultsOf 832 subjects, 35.4% reported sleep disturbances. New-onset/worsening of sleep disturbances (NOWS) was reported by 23.9% subjects. Among those with sleep disturbances (n = 295), insomnia symptoms worsened in half (51.5%) and nearly one-fourth reported worsening of RLS (24.7%) and REMBD (22.7%) each. NOWS was common in subjects lacking adequate family support during home confinement (P = 0.03); home confinement > 60 days (P = 0.05) and duration of PD > 7 years (P = 0.008). Contrarily, physical activity >1 h/day and engagement in new hobbies during home confinement were associated with better sleep. NOWS was associated with worsening of motor as well as non-motor symptoms of PD (P < 0.001) and poorer life quality (P < 0.001).ConclusionHome confinement during COVID-19 pandemic was significantly associated with NOWS among PD subjects. NOWS was associated with global worsening of PD symptoms and poorer life quality. Physical activity >1 h/day and adoption of new hobbies during home confinement were associated with better sleep.
| S-EPMC7682933 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The present study evaluated the role of having plants at home during the confinement period as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that deprived people of freely visiting open green spaces. Preferences concerning the quantity of the desired vegetation as well as the ways in which the COVID-19 crisis affected the change of perceptions with regard to having plants at home were also evaluated. A questionnaire, which was filled by 4205 participants, provided an undistracted evaluation of the impact of indoor and outdoor plants on their emotional welfare considering behavioural, social, and demographic variables. The emotional state of the respondents was neutral and a significant proportion expressed positive emotions. Having indoor plants was correlated with more positive emotions, and confined inhabitants allocated more time for plant maintenance. By contrast, negative emotions prevailed in respondents who related to a positive COVID-19 case, which was more frequent in females and young participants living in small houses that received low levels of natural light and had few or no plants. A few indoor plants placed in strategic positions were also preferred compared with a high number of plants. By contrast, an increased amount of vegetation accompanied by living walls was preferred for outdoor settings. Living walls were considered as advantageous for increasing indoor vegetation, but they were also associated with technical and economical hurdles.
| S-EPMC8569528 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Self-reported weight gain during the COVID-19 shelter-at-home has raised concerns for weight increases as the pandemic continues. We aimed to investigate the relationship of psychological and health markers with energy balance-related behaviors during the pandemic-related extended home confinement. Ratings for stress, boredom, cravings, sleep, self-control, and beliefs about weight control were collected from 1,609 adults using a questionnaire between April 24th-May 4th, 2020, while COVID-19 associated shelter-in-place guidelines were instituted across the US. We calculated four energy balance behavior scores (physical activity risk index, unhealthy eating risk index, healthy eating risk index, sedentary behavior index), and conducted a latent profile analysis of the risk factors. We examined psychological and health correlates of these risk patterns. Boredom, cravings for sweet/savory foods, and high sleepiness ratings related to high risk of increasing unhealthy eating and sedentary behavior and decreasing physical activity and healthy eating. Having greater self-control, control over cravings, or positive mood was related to lowering all aspects of energy intake and energy expenditure risks. Although individuals in risk pattern classes showed similarity in physical activity and healthy/unhealthy eating habits, they exhibited different patterns of positive mood, craving control, food cravings, boredom, and self-control. Psychological and health variables may have a significant role to play in risk behaviors associated with weight gain during the COVID-19 related home confinement. Emerging behavioral patterns may be meaningful in developing targeted weight management interventions during the current pandemic.
| S-EPMC8217605 | biostudies-literature