Mental health & maltreatment risk of children with special educational needs during COVID-19. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tso, Winnie W.Y.; Chan, Ko Ling; Lee, Tatia M.C.; Rao, Nirmala; Lee, S.L.; Jiang, Fan; Chan, Sophelia H.S.; Wong, Wilfred H.S.; Wong, Rosa S.; Tung, Keith T.S.; Yam, Jason C.; Liu, Anthony P.Y.; Chua, Gilbert T.; Rosa Duque, Jaime S.; Lam, Almen L.N.; Yip, K.M.; Leung, L.K.; Wang, Yuliang; Sun, Jin; Wang, Guanghai; Chan, Godfrey C.F.; Wong, Ian C.K.; Ip, Patrick
• Is Part Of: Child abuse & neglect. Volume 130:Part 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 -- SEN Special Educational Needs -- TD Typical Development -- SDQ The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire -- PedsQL Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core 4.0 Scales -- PSS Parental Stress Scale -- CTSPC The Conflict Tactics Scales: Parent-child Version -- SES Socioeconmic status; COVID-19 -- Child maltreatment -- Mental health -- Special educational needs; Child abuse -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105457
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-2134

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Children with special educational needs (SEN) are more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic with risk of poor mental wellbeing and child maltreatment. Objective: To examine the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of children with SEN and their maltreatment risk. Participants and setting: 417 children with SEN studying at special schools and 25, 427 children with typical development (TD) studying at mainstream schools completed an online survey in April 2020 in Hong Kong during school closures due to COVID-19. Method: Emotional/behavioural difficulties, quality of life and parental stress of children with SEN were compared with typically developed children using mixed effect model. Linear regression analyses were performed to explore factors associated with child emotional/behavioural difficulties and parental stress during the pandemic. Chi-square test was performed to detect the differences in maltreatment risk before and during COVID-19. Results: Children with SEN had significantly poorer overall quality of life (68.05 vs 80.65, p < 0.01). 23.5% of children had at least one episode of severe physical assault and 1.9% experienced very severe physical assault during COVID-19. Rates of physical assault increased significantly (59.8% vs. 71.2% p < 0.001) while children with mental disorders had increased risk of severe physical assault comparing to those without mental disorders (RR = 1.58, ꭓ 2 = 5.19 p = 0.023). Conclusion: Children with SEN had poorer mental health than typically developed children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maltreatment risk for children with SEN is higher in comparison to pre-COVID-19 era. Surveillance of child maltreatment, continuity of medical and rehabilitation care to support children with SEN are essential during a disease pandemic. Highlights: Child maltreatment risk increased in children with SEN during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 80% of children with SEN were victims of psychological aggression. Over 20% of children with SEN had at least one episode of severe physical assault. Children with mental disorders were vulnerable to severe physical abuse. Higher parental stress led to higher risk of maltreatment for children with SEN.