IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Anna Maria Szeszko; Weronika Maria Czernek; Magdalena Cichorzewska; Martyna Płachta; Rafał Marcin Wojtan; Małgorzata Lubowiecka

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6116

Authors

Anna Maria Szeszko University Clinical Hospital No. 2, Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2062-2188
Weronika Maria Czernek University Clinical Hospital No. 2, Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0457-8970
Magdalena Cichorzewska University Clinical Hospital No. 2, Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0701-8742
Martyna Płachta University Clinical Hospital No. 2, Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2471-598X
Rafał Marcin Wojtan Nikolay Pirogov Specialized District Hospital, Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9647-2245
Małgorzata Lubowiecka 4. Military Clinical Hospital and Polyclinic IPHC, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0424-2095

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6116

Keywords:

COVID-19; Children; Adolescents; Mental Health; Anxiety; Depression

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic was one of the most unique challenges faced by humanity, which did not influence only the physical functioning of the world but also its psychological state. Children and adolescents were especially prone to experiencing adverse impacts due to the disruption caused by the pandemic in terms of education, social contacts, daily routine, and availability of mental health resources. The current narrative literature review highlights current findings about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the psychological state of children and adolescents with a specific emphasis on risks, protective factors, and outcomes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for peer-reviewed studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2025.

Consistent results show there is an observed increase in mental health issues among people during and following the pandemic, in terms of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep disorders, emotional regulation problems, and behavioral issues. From a meta-analysis of the available literature, it is evident that the rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms are almost twice compared to before the pandemic. Adolescents, females, those suffering from other psychological issues, and disadvantaged children from economically challenged backgrounds were determined as the most vulnerable populations. Main risk factors include school closure, social isolation, family pressure, financial insecurity, and excessive use of electronic gadgets. On the other hand, there are protective factors that mitigate some of the adverse effects, including parental guidance, consistent routines, mental health treatment, and effective coping mechanisms. It is important for mental health professionals and policymakers to learn from previous experiences as a way to prevent similar impacts in future crises.

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