The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Saudi Preschool Children: A Parents’ Perspective

Abstract

Children worldwide experience social restrictions associated with lockdowns used to contain the COVID-19 virus pandemic. These strategies psychologically impact preschool children. However, psychological effects associated with the lockdown in Saudi Arabia have not yet been investigated in Saudi preschool children. Therefore, research was needed to gauge the mental health of these children alongside other factors affecting their families. This research aimed to investigate and test (via some research hypotheses) the psychological impact on 2 to 5-year-old Saudi children due to the virus lockdown. Additionally, financial and psychological factors affecting Saudi parents during the crisis and their resulting impact on their children were studied. Online Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 11⁄2–5 (CBCL/11⁄2–5) questionnaires were given to 113 Saudi parents. The resulting analysis showed that preschool children experienced some psychological impacts from the COVID-19 lockdown; namely, anxiety/depression disorders. Moreover, the analysis found that there was an association between Saudi parents’ mental disorders and effects on their children’s psychological health because of the lockdown. Analysis of the data provided insights into problems of the parents: psychological problems among the participants can be attributed to financial difficulties they faced during the lockdown period. However, psychological disorders, such as withdrawal and sleep problems, did not appear among Saudi children during the Covid-19 lockdown. Further, the research findings showed that socioeconomic factors of parents (e.g., income) were not linked with preschool children's mental health during the lockdown because all parents were at a middle-income level. In conclusion, a pandemic lockdown can lead to psychological effects such as anxiety/depression among preschool children. The parents’ psychological health and financial status, which can be affected by lockdowns, also may affect preschool children.