Assessment of Brazilian children’s anxiety during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic through cross-sectional interviews at schools

TL;DR

This study found that about 13% of Brazilian children showed signs of anxiety after returning to school during the second year of the pandemic.

Contribution

The study provides updated data on anxiety prevalence in Brazilian children during the second year of the pandemic, showing a decrease compared to earlier reports.

Findings

Anxiety prevalence based on CAQ scores was 13.5%, and based on VAS scores was 6.7%.

Each additional year of age increased the odds of anxiety by 10% (CAQ) and 30% (VAS).

The anxiety prevalence was lower than earlier reports during the pandemic.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess anxiety prevalence among schoolchildren and associated factors following their return to in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study was conducted in June 2022 and involved children aged 6–12 years and their parents at four public schools in Brazil. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Children’s Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ; scores of 4–12) and visual analog scale (VAS; scores of 0–10). Of 733 children, 54% were girls (average age, 8.7 ± 1.87 years), and most of the included parents were mothers (84%).

Based on Brazilian CAQ scores of ≥9 and VAS scores of >7, anxiety prevalence was 13.5 and 6.7%, respectively. Using logistic regression, CAQ scores of ≥9 and VAS scores of >7 were associated with the children’s ages. Each additional year of children’s age raised the odds of anxiety (CAQ ≥ 9) by 10%. For the VAS scores, each additional year of children’s age increased the odds of anxiety (VAS > 7) by 30%.

These findings showed a lower prevalence than those reported at the beginning and one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, further emphasizing the need for public health interventions targeting different age groups.

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