CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS IN THE STRESS SITUATION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (RESULTS OF A COHORT STUDY IN THE VOLOGDA REGION)
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF warned that the mental well-being of children and adolescents could be severely affected. And their parents are also, according to scientists, a group of increased risk of adverse outcomes of the outbreak of a new coronavirus infection. This study presents selective results of the cohort monitoring “Studying the conditions for the formation of a healthy generation in the Vologda Oblast”, conducted by the Vologda Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The information base is the results of a survey of 364 mothers of children from three cohorts born in 2004, 2014 and 2020. (aged 1, 7 and 17). The problems and experiences faced by the families of children and adolescents during the pandemic are considered. Results: children, according to parents, most easily endured the situation of the spread of a new coronavirus infection. However, schoolchildren's mothers note in their children an increase in the level of fear for the health of loved ones, the emergence of problems with distance learning, a decrease in physical activity, excessive passion for gadgets, an increase in body weight, and a deterioration in physical and mental health. Parents of first-graders became the group at increased risk of developing adverse psychological outcomes of the pandemic. They were more likely than other parents to face economic problems, experienced anxiety and depressive symptoms, feelings of guilt towards children due to insufficient time and attention, their family members began to quarrel more often. Despite the severity of the condition, their behavior was dominated by constructive coping actions in a difficult life situation. The most protected in psycho-emotional and economic terms were the parents of children of the first year of life. Health, education and social policy professionals, governmental and non-governmental organizations have an important role to play in mitigating the psychosocial negative impacts of COVID-19 on children and adolescents and their parents.