Children's conceptions of coronavirus. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonoti, Fotini; Christidou, Vasilia; Papadopoulou, Penelope
• Is Part Of: Public understanding of science. Volume 31:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: children -- conceptions -- coronavirus -- COVID-19 -- drawings; Science news -- Periodicals; Science -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.483
• DOI: 10.1177/09636625211049643
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-6625

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine children's conceptions of coronavirus as denoted in their verbal descriptions and drawings and whether these vary as a function of children's age and the mode of expression. Data were collected in Greece during spring 2020 and 344 children aged 4 to 10 years were first asked to verbally describe coronavirus and then to produce a drawing of it. Content analysis of data revealed the following main themes: (a) Coronavirus, (b) Medical, (c) Psychological, and (d) Social. Results showed that children from an early age present a remarkable level of understanding of coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease as a multidimensional construct, which can be designated not only through characteristics of the Sars-Cov-2 but also through its medical, social, and psychological consequences on people's lives. Moreover, children were found to emphasize different aspects of this construct depending on their age and the mode of expression.