Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Pre-K–12 Students: A Systematic Review of Emerging Literature

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Impact of COVID-19 on Counseling-Related Topics

Abstract

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, PK-12 students have endured school closures, lockdown procedures, and disruption to daily routines, to the potential detriment of their mental and emotional wellbeing. To explore this, researchers conducted a systematic literature review of empirical studies focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on PK-12 student mental health. Within the 113 relevant studies published on this topic by May of 2021, several themes emerged, including a general increase in stress, anxiety, and depression, connections between caregiver and youth mental health, the mental health impacts of increased technology use during the pandemic, and impacts on particular student groups including differences based on gender, race/ethnicity, and existing mental health status. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Authors

• David Bryant Naff, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Shenita Williams, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Jennifer Darby, Chesterfield County Public Schools

• Melissa Lee, Virginia Commonwealth University