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More than 10,000 parents have now taken part in the Co-SPACE (COVID-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents, and Children in Epidemics) survey led by experts at the University of Oxford.

Sad girl in child psychologist's office

Parents/carers of children aged 4-10 years of age reported that over a one-month period in lockdown, they saw increases in their child’s emotional difficulties, such as feeling unhappy, worried, being clingy and experiencing physical symptoms associated with worry, according to early results from the Co-SPACE study, asking parents and carers about their children’s mental health through the COVID-19 crisis.

Over a one-month period in lockdown:

  • Parents/carers of primary school age children taking part in the survey report an increase in their child’s emotional, behavioural, and restless/attentional difficulties.
  • Parents/carers of secondary school age children report a reduction in their child’s emotional difficulties, but an increase in restless/attentional behaviours.
  • Adolescents taking part in the survey report no change in their own emotional or behavioural, and restless/attentional difficulties.
  • Parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and those with a pre-existing mental health difficulty report a reduction in their child’s emotional difficulties and no change in behavioural or restless/attentional difficulties.

Read the full story on the University of Oxford website