Mental health of children during the COVID-19 pandemic

An integrative review

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the scientific evidence on the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and their coping strategies. Method: this is an integrative literature review study in the SciELO, Lilacs, Scopus, and Medline databases. The search found a total of 6,094 articles. After applying the eligibility criteria, 12 articles were composed for the review. Results: the results showed that the main repercussions for mental health were: anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, hyperactivity, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, mood states, social distancing, behavior changes, decrease or lack of connection with peers, and increased screen time. The following coping strategies were identified: open and explanatory dialogues between parents and children about the pandemic and the coronavirus, regulation of sleep patterns and screen time, regular physical activity, improvement in the quality of remote teaching and universal access to classes, and implementation of public policies and actions in the health. Conclusion: it was concluded that children are already suffering from these repercussions, which could affect their mental and physical health, raising the need to organize coping strategies at the population level that minimize damage in the post-pandemic period.