A group from the National Center for Children's Development and Medical Research conducted a questionnaire survey on the effects of the new coronavirus epidemic on children, and found that more than 50% of the responding children were less likely to talk to teachers and adults due to the effects of the new coronavirus. It turned out that there is a possibility that it may be difficult to discuss problems such as answering.


Under these circumstances, what are the coping strategies that the children have come up with?

This survey was conducted by a group of the National Center for Child Health and Development on the Internet for children up to high school and their parents to investigate the effects of the new coronavirus on children. Over 3,000 people answered in a month and a half.

Of these,


51% of the respondents answered that the ease of talking to teachers and adults was "very reduced" and "slightly reduced" due to the new corona, accounting for more than half of the total, and children consulted about their worries and stress. It means that the difficult situation may continue.



In addition, where asked in multiple answers about the state of mind


▽ "Given the corona of the things I hate" is 42 Pasento


▽ "become frustrated soon" is 37 Pasento


▽ "can not concentrate recently" become such as 32%


for some 70% of all children seem to be stressed.

Dr. Mayumi Hanya of the National Center for Child Health and Development said, "It is presumed that there are children who are expected to have long-term effects and are experiencing more stress than before, causing changes in their minds and bodies. If you are in trouble, it is important to bring it in the direction of solving it together. "

What did you find in the survey so far?

The National Center for Child Health and Development has conducted a questionnaire survey five times since April last year, analyzing the effects of the new corona on the mind and body of children.

This is the main content of the survey results so far.

1st time. Three-quarters of stressed children

The first investigation was conducted from April to the end of May last year during the first state of emergency.

A total of about 8,700 respondents surveyed children and their parents aged 7 to 17 about their lives and health.



In the questionnaire to children, 75% of the children answered that they had some kind of stress, such as "I feel uncomfortable when I think about Corona" or "I can't concentrate recently".

In addition, 31% of children, who spend more than four hours a day watching games, smartphones, and TV screens, account for about one-third.



Regarding the rhythm of life, 61% answered that the wake-up time was off, indicating that the lives of children were affected.

Second time. Corona infection I want to keep it secret

The second survey was conducted from June to the end of July last year after the school holidays ended, and we conducted a survey on awareness of the new coronavirus and received responses from about 6,800 people.

When asked about the case where they or their family were infected,


32% of the children answered


"I want to keep it secret" ▽ "Many people want to keep it secret"


It was found that as many as

47%

of children felt some resistance to being aware of the infection.



Regarding the awareness of children who have been infected and healed, multiple answers were given:


▽ 22% of children answered "I don't want to play together too much"


▽ 40% of children answered "Many people don't want to play" next to


these children consciousness has been that it is necessary to be careful in order to easily lead to discrimination and prejudice.

3rd time. Stress High level after summer vacation

The third survey was conducted from September to October last year after the summer vacation, regarding children's stress, etc., and more than 10,000 responded.



As a result, 73% of the children answered that they were feeling some kind of stress, such as "I feel uncomfortable when I think of Corona" or "I can't concentrate recently", and a state of emergency was declared. It was almost unchanged from 75% in the same survey from April to May.

Dr. Hanya, who conducted the survey, said, "Children seem to be more stressed than adults think due to the shortening of summer vacation and the cancellation of school events in the fall. Parents and teachers occasionally have children. It is necessary to devise such as listening to the story of. "

4th time. Symptomatology of moderate or higher depression

In the fourth survey conducted from November to December last year, more than 4,600 people answered about their children's mental health and worries.



In the survey, we asked children in the 4th grade and above

about their state of mind over the past 7 days,

such as


depression and


interest in things,

using a scale that examines the symptoms of depression in children


.

As a result


▽ 15% of elementary school students


▽ 24% of junior high school students


it


in ▽ 30% of high school students


is that the symptoms of moderate or severe depression was observed.



It is said that the cause of the depressive symptom could not be verified, but the group has been affected by changes in school and life due to the new coronavirus, as there are voices of anxiety about the new coronavirus through the survey. There is a possibility.

Analyze 5 surveys

"I don't like it when I think of Corona."

Surveys that have been conducted five times.


When asked about their state of mind, the number of children who answered "I don't like it when I think about Corona" was


▽ 39% in the


first survey


41% in the

second survey

42% in the third survey


and


▽ this time According to the survey conducted


by, it has remained almost unchanged at

42%

.

"I get frustrated quickly" higher than a year ago

In addition, the number of children who answered "I get frustrated immediately" was


▽ 1st time 34%


▽ 2nd time 28%


▽ 3rd time 30%


and


▽ this time 37%, which is


higher than a year ago.

"I hurt myself and my family" Increased in this survey

The number of children who answered that they would hurt themselves and their families


was 10% for the first time,


9% for the second time,


7% for the third


time, and 20% in this survey.



In the survey, the percentage of children who were feeling some kind of stress continued to exceed 70% of the total.



In addition, in these surveys, the target children are different each time.



Dr. Hanya said, "Since the first survey, children's stress status has not improved. It is possible that the burden of corona's effects has been longer than expected and is affecting mental and physical health. Yes, it is difficult to manage the convergence of the corona itself at the individual level, but it may be possible at home or school to ease the restrictions and make the child feel at home. "

The child thought!

How to make your feelings easier?

The group also interviewed the children who participated in the questionnaire about what to do when they felt stress, and summarized and published it as "23 Kufu to ease the feelings that children thought."

"Speak to someone to hear" "Speak out"

One of these is "Speak to someone and ask them to listen."


Opinions received from children included


▽ "Friends Guchiru" (1st grade high school boys)


▽ "Ask family members" (5th grade girls)


.



There is also a method of "speaking out".


From the children, there were

opinions such as


▽ "Sake towards the cushion" (1st grade girls)


▽ "Take a video and say everything you want to say" (5th grade girls)


.

"Write out" "Amaeru"

A method called "export" has also been proposed.


From the children, there were

opinions such as

▽ "


Write everything that is hazy on paper" (3rd grade girls)


▽ "Write in the diary" (4th grade boys)


.



It is also proposed to "give up".


From the children, there were

opinions such as

▽ "


Getting mom and dad to squeeze" (1st grade boy)


▽ "Rubbing your favorite stuffed animal" (1st grade boy)


.

"Cry and laugh"

Then,

there were opinions such as

"crying and laughing" and


▽ "crying where you can feel at ease" (second grade girls)


▽ "laughing earnestly on manga and TV" (second grade boys)


.

In addition, there are various methods that children have thought of, such as "watching videos," "exercising, moving their bodies," "changing where they go out," "thinking," and "not thinking."



"23 Kufu to ease children's thoughts" is posted on the website of the National Center for Child Health and Development.