Depression and Anxiety in Mothers of Children Hospitalized for COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Objective:Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection and the pandemic process have become crucial public health problems with devastating effects on the psychological, social, and economic aspects of society. This study aimed to examine the emotional state of the mothers of the children diagnosed with this disease, to investigate the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and to reveal the situations that might affect these due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a crucial source of stress.Method:We included mothers of 50 pediatric patients (under 18 years old) hospitalized for COVID-19 infection proven by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 polymerase chain reaction test, and mothers of 50 patients hospitalized with other diagnoses except for COVID-19. We evaluated mothers with the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD).Results:We assessed the relationship between education level and anxiety/depression in mothers of children diagnosed with COVID-19. A negative correlation was found between education level and HAD anxiety subscale (p=0.049, r=-0.280). The mean HAD anxiety score of mothers of COVID-19 positive children was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.001). The incidence of depression in the study population was almost equal, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.839). According to the total HAD scale score, the mean score of the mothers of the COVID-19 group had statistically significantly higher scores than the control group (p=0.043).Conclusion:Although two years have passed since the pandemic started, COVID-19 is still a source of anxiety and stress for parents. In addition, socio-demographic factors affecting the psychological health of parents may further increase this burden.

Keywords

• anxiety
• children
• covid-19
• depression
• mothers
• sociodemographic factors