Brain and behavior · 2026
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Development and Caregiving: A 7-Year Repeated Cross-Sectional Study of 3-Year-Old Children in Kobe City, Japan.
СтатьяНазвание и аннотация: Перевод пока не подготовлен
Обработка статьи · этапы, ошибки и управление
Загрузка состояния…
Ошибки и ограничения
История · было → стало
Состояние обновляется каждые 5 секунд, пока блок открыт. Процент показывается только там, где известен объём работы. Пауза останавливает продолжение этапа; текущий запрос к источнику может завершиться.
Suemune Kazuki, Yamaguchi Hiroshi, Nishiyama Masahiro, Kyono Yuki, Kawamura Aoi, Oikawa Shizuka, Imai Takumi, Murakami Sae, Mishina Hiroki, Nozu Kandai, Nagase Hiroaki
Аннотация
INTRODUCTION: Social restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have resulted in children spending more time with their families and having fewer opportunities to attend nursery schools or therapeutic facilities. Few studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development and parenting environments of 3-year-old children. In this study, we aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fine and gross motor skills and language development, including comprehension and communication, in 3-year-old children. The secondary objective was to investigate their impact on caregiving environments.
METHODS: This repeated cross-sectional study was conducted at age 3 years using data from a longitudinal birth cohort. We analyzed data from routine 3-year-old health examinations conducted in Kobe City, Japan, between April 2014 and March 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between COVID-19 birth cohorts and developmental and caregiving outcomes among 3-year-old children. In total, 62,192 children (3 years, 51.4% males; majority Japanese) were categorized into three birth cohorts: pre- (from 4/1/2014 to 3/31/2017; n = 29,421), partial- (from 4/1/2017 to 3/31/2020; n = 25,202), and post-COVID-19 (from 4/1/2020 to 3/31/2021; n = 7569).
RESULTS: The prevalence of impaired gross motor skills and language comprehension was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 group than in the pre-COVID-19 group (gross motor skill: 0.7% vs. 0.5%, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02-1.95, p = 0.04; language comprehension abnormalities: 3.6% vs. 2.1%, OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.49-1.99, p < 0.001). However, medical evaluations conducted by physicians showed no differences in fine motor skills. Caregiver questionnaires showed impaired verbal and communication skills, as well as reduced interactions with peers and relatives, in the post-COVID-19 group (limited vocabulary growth: 1.0% vs. 0.7%, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.72, p = 0.04; inability to formulate three-word sentences: 4.4% vs. 3.4%, OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11-1.43, p < 0.001; inability to state the names of their playmates: 5.5% vs. 3.9%, OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.25-1.57, p = 0.003). However, no definitive conclusions regarding motor skills could be drawn from our findings. Although caregiving assistance decreased significantly in the COVID-19 group, comparable trends were observed in the pre-COVID-19 group.
CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in language development and social interactions, possibly reflecting decreased opportunities for social engagement outside the family.
METHODS: This repeated cross-sectional study was conducted at age 3 years using data from a longitudinal birth cohort. We analyzed data from routine 3-year-old health examinations conducted in Kobe City, Japan, between April 2014 and March 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between COVID-19 birth cohorts and developmental and caregiving outcomes among 3-year-old children. In total, 62,192 children (3 years, 51.4% males; majority Japanese) were categorized into three birth cohorts: pre- (from 4/1/2014 to 3/31/2017; n = 29,421), partial- (from 4/1/2017 to 3/31/2020; n = 25,202), and post-COVID-19 (from 4/1/2020 to 3/31/2021; n = 7569).
RESULTS: The prevalence of impaired gross motor skills and language comprehension was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 group than in the pre-COVID-19 group (gross motor skill: 0.7% vs. 0.5%, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02-1.95, p = 0.04; language comprehension abnormalities: 3.6% vs. 2.1%, OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.49-1.99, p < 0.001). However, medical evaluations conducted by physicians showed no differences in fine motor skills. Caregiver questionnaires showed impaired verbal and communication skills, as well as reduced interactions with peers and relatives, in the post-COVID-19 group (limited vocabulary growth: 1.0% vs. 0.7%, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.72, p = 0.04; inability to formulate three-word sentences: 4.4% vs. 3.4%, OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11-1.43, p < 0.001; inability to state the names of their playmates: 5.5% vs. 3.9%, OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.25-1.57, p = 0.003). However, no definitive conclusions regarding motor skills could be drawn from our findings. Although caregiving assistance decreased significantly in the COVID-19 group, comparable trends were observed in the pre-COVID-19 group.
CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in language development and social interactions, possibly reflecting decreased opportunities for social engagement outside the family.