1. Young Families and Corona (CoronabaBY). Detection of needs for psychosocial support in families with children aged 0-3 years across Bavaria during the Covid-19-pandemic
- Author
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Prof. Dr. med. Volker Mall, University of Munich, Dr. phil. Anna Friedmann, University of Munich, Dr. rer. biol. hum. Ina Nehring, University of Munich, Catherine Büchel, University of Munich, Prof. Dr. med. Uta Behrends, Clinic and Policlinic, Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Eber, Association of Child and Adolescent, Dr. med. Dominik Ewald, Association of Child and Adolescent, Dr. med. Gabi Haus, Association of Child and Adolescent, and Otto Laub, Bavarian
- Subjects
Psychosocial Stress ,Young Families ,Psychiatry and Psychology ,Burdened Families ,Anxiety ,Social and Behavioral Sciences ,Crisis ,Parental Internalising Stress Symptoms ,Paediatrician ,Stress Factors ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Psychology ,Child Regulatory and Behavioural Problems ,Child Psychology ,Child ,Family Health ,Early Intervention Services ,Covid Restrictions ,Pandemic ,Mental and Social Health ,Depression ,Covid 19 ,Need for Psychosocial Support ,FOS: Psychology ,Developmental Psychology ,Corona ,Public Health ,Child Mental Health - Abstract
Longitudinal studies of the last decades impressively demonstrate the potentially harmful influence of early psychosocial stress on children's physical and mental health (1,2,3). Within the first year of life, children are particularly vulnerable to health-relevant environmental factors, while at the same time their resilience is not yet very robust (4). Children between 1-3 years of age are also still highly dependent on the care provided by and the relationship with their parents. Overall, children aged 0-3 years are considered a special risk group for neglect and other forms of maltreatment (5). Currently, the restrictions caused by the Covid 19 pandemic and the worsening economic conditions lead to multiple psychosocial burdens for young families (parental stress, existential worries, etc.). It can be assumed that this is reflected in both the immediate parental stress and the children's behaviour (6). Early and systematic identification of the needs for psychosocial support in families with children between 0 and 3 years of age enables the prompt initiation of appropriate support services (e.g. early intervention services, so called “Frühe Hilfen”) and can contribute to preventing negative effects on child health. Due to the regular and early access to young families via the well-child visits (so called "U check-ups"), resident paediatricians are particularly suitable for this task (7). Currently, there is no universal standardised procedure in Germany that facilitates a reliable identification of psychosocially burdened families and referral to early intervention services. Within the framework of a Bavaria-wide study, it is to be examined whether the access rate to early prevention services can be positively influenced through a specific "early prevention module". Furthermore, the longitudinal course of psychosocial stress factors in families with children between 0 and 3 years of age during the Covid 19 pandemic will be investigated. A comparison with corresponding historical cohorts will be used to determine the extent to which the psychosocial stress of families with infants and young children has changed under the current crisis conditions, how the stress factors correlate and how effective support measures initiated by the paediatricians are. If psychosocial stress in families is detected at an early stage and support measures are initiated promptly, an escalation of the stressful circumstances (risk to children's well-being) and a chronification of the existing problems can be prevented. If the "early interventions module" proves to be effective, it should be considered to include it in the standard procedure of the paediatric U-check-ups. (1) Werner, E. E. (1993). Risk, resilience, and recovery: Perspectives from the Kauai Longitudinal Study. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 503-515. (2) Laucht, M., Esser, G. & Schmid, M. H. (1997). Developmental Outcome of Infants Born with Biological and Psychosocial Risks. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38(7), 843-854. (3) Laucht, M., Schmidt, M. H. & Esser, G. (2002). Motorische, kognitive und sozial-emotionale Entwicklung von 11-Jährigen mit frühkindlichen Risikobelastungen: späte Folgen. Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, 30(1), 5-19. (4) Schlack, H. G. (2009). Sozialpädiatrie: Eine Standortbestimmung. In H. G. Schlack, R. von Kries & U. Thyen (Eds.), Sozialpädiatrie. Gesundheitswissenschaft und pädiatrischer Alltag (pp. 1-8). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. (5) Münder J, Mutke B, Schone R: Kindeswohl zwischen Jugendhilfe und Justiz. Münster: Votum-Verlag 2000. (6) Papoušek, M. (2004). Regulationsstörungen der frühen Kindheit: Klinische Evidenz für ein neues diagnostisches Konzept. In: M. Papoušek, M. Schieche, H. Wurmser (Hrsg.), Regulationsstörungen der frühen Kindheit, 77-110. Huber, Bern. (7) Hayutin, L. G., Reed-Knight, B., Blount, R. L., Lewis, J. & McCormick, M. L. (2009). Increasing Parent–Pediatrician Communication about Children’s Psychosocial Problems. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34 (10), 1155-1164.
- Published
- 2022
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