Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress among Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Parental Reports

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns necessitated unprecedented social isolation and school closures, significantly disrupting the developmental environment of children. While the physical health implications of the virus were widely documented, research on the specific psychological burden among the children particularly in rural regions remains scarce. This study assessed the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms among children aged 7–14 years in rural District Hangu, Pakistan. A descriptive quantitative design was used, and data were collected from 60 parents, who had at least one child aged 7–14 years, through structured bilingual (English/Pashto) questionnaires. The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire–Parent Version (SMFQ-P) and the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) were employed to evaluate depressive and trauma related symptoms. The prevalence of PTSD was 20%, while 18.3% of children exhibited depressive symptoms. Higher levels of both PTSD and depression were observed among female children compared to males. Additionally, children aged 11–14 years showed greater psychological distress than younger age groups. High parental illiteracy (41.7% of fathers) suggested potential socio-economic vulnerabilities in the sample population. One in five children in this rural Pakistani community exhibited PTSD and depressive symptoms, during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health screening, school-based psychosocial support, and family-focused interventions in similar low-resource settings during and after public health crises.