New study shows modest declines in child development during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the social landscape globally, impacting various facets of life, including the development of young children.

Amid concerns about the pandemic's influence on early childhood development, a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics sheds light on the association between the pandemic and changes in developmental milestone attainment among U.S. children aged 0 to 5 years.

The study by Sara B. Johnson, PhD, MPH, and colleagues aimed to elucidate whether the pandemic influenced developmental screening scores and caregiver-reported worries about their children's behavior.

Employing an interrupted time series design, the researchers analyzed data from 50,205 children across three distinct periods: a 24-month prepandemic baseline, a three-month interruption period, and a subsequent 24-month intra-pandemic period.

The findings revealed modest decreases in adjusted age-standardized mean Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) screening scores for communication, problem-solving, and personal-social domains during the intra-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period.

However, no significant changes were observed in fine or gross motor domains. Although relatively small (2%-3%), these declines raise concerns about potential developmental gaps among U.S. children.

Of particular interest was the examination of developmental milestone attainment in infants (aged 0 to 12 months), which showed similar effect sizes in communication and problem-solving domains, albeit with fewer changes observed in personal-social scores compared to the broader age group.

Moreover, the study explored caregiver worries and concerns about their children's behavior during the pandemic. While there was a slight increase in caregiver worries during the intra-pandemic period, rates of concerns about child behavior remained stable.

Source: Newsroom