Stress due to adverse childhood experiences and their impact on child development during the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review
Keywords:
child development, adverse childhood experiences, COVID-19Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, society was forced to adapt and underwent significant changes due to measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus, such as social restrictions. These restrictions led to increased stress levels, intensifying pre-existing vulnerabilities and further exposing children and adolescents to adverse situations, with potential consequences for their psychological and emotional development, both in the short and long term. In this context, the objective of this study was to describe, through an integrative literature review, the impacts of stress and its possible effects on child development, particularly as a result of the adverse experiences intensified during the pandemic. To achieve this, an integrative review was conducted using the PRISMA method and the PICO strategy. The studies analyzed indicated that the pandemic exacerbated adverse childhood experiences, leading to significant consequences for the mental health of children and adolescents, such as increased emotional and behavioral problems, elevated stress levels, and sleep disorders, all of which may compromise neurodevelopment. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of protective factors, such as family and community resilience, in mitigating these effects and preventing further developmental harm.
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