Assessment of Brazilian children’s anxiety during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic through cross-sectional interviews at schools

Abstract

Introduction: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess anxiety prevalence among schoolchildren and associated factors following their return to in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was conducted in June 2022 and involved children aged 6-12 years and their parents at four public schools in Brazil. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Children's Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ; scores of 4-12) and visual analog scale (VAS; scores of 0-10). Of 733 children, 54% were girls (average age, 8.7 ± 1.87 years), and most of the included parents were mothers (84%). Results: Based on Brazilian CAQ scores of ≥9 and VAS scores of >7, anxiety prevalence was 13.5 and 6.7%, respectively. Using logistic regression, CAQ scores of ≥9 and VAS scores of >7 were associated with the children's ages. Each additional year of children's age raised the odds of anxiety (CAQ ≥ 9) by 10%. For the VAS scores, each additional year of children's age increased the odds of anxiety (VAS > 7) by 30%. Discussion: These findings showed a lower prevalence than those reported at the beginning and one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, further emphasizing the need for public health interventions targeting different age groups.