AUTHOR=Xiong Hua-Ying , Zhang Gaofu , Wang Li , Li Zhijuan , Shen Qian , Li Yuhong , Zhu Hongtao , Du Yue , Sun Liangzhong , Zhao Bo , Zhao Lijun , Fu Haidong , Li Xiaoyan , Gao Xiaojie , Hao Sheng , Ding Juanjuan , Chen Zongwen , Xu Zhiquan , Liu Xiaorong , Tao Yuhong , Zhang Aihua , Li Qiu , Wang Mo TITLE=Psychological research of the children with chronic kidney disease and their guardians during the COVID-19 pandemic JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=10 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.922678 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.922678 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=Background

There is great mental stress due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, there are no detailed psychological studies of the children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their guardians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

This study explores the psychological pressure on children with CKD and their guardians.

Methods

An online survey was conducted at 20 of the largest pediatric nephropathy departments in China, including the Rutter Parent Questionnaire, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Overall, 885 children (589 children with CKD associated with 296 children of the control group) completed the survey together with their guardians.

Results

There was no statistical difference between CKD children and control children regarding their Rutter behavior scores and abnormal behaviors. Nevertheless, the abnormal behavior of children might aggravate the anxiety and depression of guardians in both CKD and control groups (p < 0.05). We confirmed that the anxiety and depression of guardians in the CKD group were both significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The guardians in the CKD group with lower annual income were more likely to experience anxiety (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the guardians whose children were older than 11 years old might be more anxious than those who were 6–11 years old. Besides, the guardians in the CKD group who watched the news for 30–60 min daily were less likely to have depression than those who watched < 10 min (p < 0.05). The subgroup results showed that the gender, the time of watching the news, the annual income of guardians, and children's age might be the most critical factors influencing guardians' psychological burden.

Conclusion

The guardians in the CKD group have more severe anxiety and depression during the pandemic. The children's abnormal behavior, adolescents' pressure, low household income, and the panic about the pandemic may be the main reasons for the anxiety and depression of guardians.