Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
Laura Vallejo-Slocker1, Javier Fresneda1, and Miguel A. Vallejo2
Background: A pandemic disaster has specific effects on mental health, however, little is known about those specific effects in children and adolescents. Thus, the aim of this study is to describe the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a sample of children and adolescents and to compare the results with previous national data and other studies to determine variations. Method: A total of 459 children and adolescents in residential care, foster families, kinship families, or family strengthening programs under SOS Children’s Villages Spain were evaluated using the SDQ to measure internalizing and externalizing problems and using KIDSCREEN-10 index to measure heath related quality of life. An independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and the chi-square test were used. Results: The children and adolescents in this study had worse psychological wellbeing than those in the 2017 Spanish reference, that is, before the COVID-19 outbreak. Quality of life remained the same. No differences between care modalities were found. Conclusion: It is necessary to monitor the mental health status of children and adolescents to prevent possible problems. Additionally, it is necessary to use well-known assessment instruments because it is essential to have a reference to other situations and populations.
Bienestar Psicológico de Niños Vulnerables Durante la Pandemia del COVID-19. Antecedentes: una pandemia tiene efectos concretos sobre la salud mental; sin embargo, dichos efectos son poco conocidos en niños y adolescentes. El objetivo de este estudio es describir el impacto psicológico de la COVID-19 en una muestra de niños y adolescentes y comparar los resultados con datos de referencia nacionales y otros estudios. Método: un total de 459 niños y adolescentes en acogimiento residencial, familias de acogida extensa y ajena y en programas de fortalecimiento familiar, atendidos por Aldeas Infantiles SOS España, fueron evaluados mediante el SDQ para determinar la presencia de problemas internalizantes y externalizantes y mediante el KIDSCREEN-10 para determinar su nivel de calidad de vida. Se utilizó comparaciones de medias para muestras independientes, ANOVA y Chi-cuadrado. Resultados: los niños y adolescentes estudiados obtuvieron peores resultados en bienestar psicológico que los publicados como referencia nacional en España en 2017, antes del brote de la COVID-19. La calidad de vida no se ha visto afectada. No se han encontrado diferencias entre las modalidades de cuidado. Conclusiones: es necesario evaluar la salud mental de los niños y adolescentes para prevenir posibles problemas. Adicionalmente, es necesario usar instrumentos bien conocidos que permitan comparar los resultados con otras situaciones y poblaciones.
SPANISH
ENGLISH
https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2020.218