Researchers have shed new light on the profound impact of school closures during the pandemic on children's mental wellbeing. A massive study involving over 190,000 kids in California found that reopening schools led to a significant decline in depression and anxiety rates, with girls experiencing the most notable improvement.
The findings, published in the journal Epidemiology, provide strong evidence for policymakers and educators that in-person school attendance is crucial for children's mental health. According to senior author Rita Hamad of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the study's results "offer lessons for future public health emergencies" and underscore why mental health issues worsened among children during the pandemic.
The research built on previous studies that found a surge in depression, anxiety, and learning difficulties among kids due to isolation from peers and lack of emotional support from schools. However, these earlier studies were limited by their reliance on surveys and small sample groups. In contrast, this large-scale study analyzed data from California's 5-18 age group between March 2020 and June 2021.
What was particularly insightful about the study was that it took into account California's unique situation, where schools closed for longer periods than elsewhere and reopened in a staggered manner. This allowed researchers to gain valuable insights into how school reopening impacts mental health.
The results showed a significant decrease in the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and ADHD diagnoses by the ninth month after schools reopened, with spending on psychiatric drugs and ADHD medications also dipping. The study found that girls experienced the most improvement, suggesting that school-based social environments are particularly essential for their wellbeing.
Researchers point to several factors that may have contributed to these findings, including disrupted social interactions, excessive screen time, irregular sleep schedules, family problems due to financial constraints, and limited access to mental health support services provided by schools. Hamad noted in an interview with the New York Times that the decisions made during the pandemic "may have been different if we had seen that the benefits of school closures were being outweighed by risks like this."
However, it is worth noting that the study only included students from high-income districts, highlighting the need for further research into the mental health impacts of schools reopening in marginalized communities.
The findings, published in the journal Epidemiology, provide strong evidence for policymakers and educators that in-person school attendance is crucial for children's mental health. According to senior author Rita Hamad of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the study's results "offer lessons for future public health emergencies" and underscore why mental health issues worsened among children during the pandemic.
The research built on previous studies that found a surge in depression, anxiety, and learning difficulties among kids due to isolation from peers and lack of emotional support from schools. However, these earlier studies were limited by their reliance on surveys and small sample groups. In contrast, this large-scale study analyzed data from California's 5-18 age group between March 2020 and June 2021.
What was particularly insightful about the study was that it took into account California's unique situation, where schools closed for longer periods than elsewhere and reopened in a staggered manner. This allowed researchers to gain valuable insights into how school reopening impacts mental health.
The results showed a significant decrease in the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and ADHD diagnoses by the ninth month after schools reopened, with spending on psychiatric drugs and ADHD medications also dipping. The study found that girls experienced the most improvement, suggesting that school-based social environments are particularly essential for their wellbeing.
Researchers point to several factors that may have contributed to these findings, including disrupted social interactions, excessive screen time, irregular sleep schedules, family problems due to financial constraints, and limited access to mental health support services provided by schools. Hamad noted in an interview with the New York Times that the decisions made during the pandemic "may have been different if we had seen that the benefits of school closures were being outweighed by risks like this."
However, it is worth noting that the study only included students from high-income districts, highlighting the need for further research into the mental health impacts of schools reopening in marginalized communities.
it's amazing how schools can have such a big impact on kids' mental wellbeing! I mean, think about it, when they're stuck at home all day with no social interactions and limited emotional support, it's no wonder depression and anxiety rates skyrocket 
. But when they get back to school, and they start hanging out with friends again, it's like a weight's been lifted off their shoulders 
! I'm so glad that this study shows that in-person learning is crucial for kids' mental health - it just makes so much sense 
. And yessss girls do experience the most improvement too, it's all about those school-based social environments being super essential for them 
. Can't wait to see more research on how schools can better support marginalized communities 
I'm glad to see some good news on kids' mental wellbeing after all the uncertainty during the pandemic 
. The fact that reopening schools led to a significant decline in depression and anxiety rates is a big deal 
, especially for girls who seemed to benefit the most from being back in school 
.
. It's not fair to leave those kids out of the study just because their districts weren't included 
.
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Did u guys know that schools closures during pandemic increased depression & anxiety rates among kids? 
A massive study w/ 190k+ kids in California found that schools reopened led to a significant decline in depression & anxiety rates, especially for girls! 
Girls experienced the most notable improvement, suggesting school-based social environments are key 2 their wellbeing 
They were stuck at home with no social interaction, too much screen time, and parents were struggling financially. It's a wonder anyone was sane! 
. I mean, it makes sense, right? Kids need their peers, teachers, and social stuff to cope with life. It's not just about academics; it's about emotional support too 
We should be making sure schools have more resources in place to support mental health and social interactions, because this stuff matters! 