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Report reveals young people felt less anxious and more connected to school in lockdown

33 replies

FlySheMust · 24/08/2020 08:22

Some children's mental health improved during the lockdown according to one report. I hope they will be supported in going back to school.

bristol.ac.uk/news/2020/august/young-people-mental-health.html

OP posts:
Hardbackwriter · 24/08/2020 13:46

I am astonished by this report - it is so far from what DH's experience as a teacher has been, and from the experiences of everyone I know with teenagers - but obviously research trumps anecdote so I'm prepared to admit that I was wrong and my experience must be quite unrepresentative. I did note that the research was specifically year 9 students and wondered if it would have been a bit different for years where exams are a more real and looming prospect, but perhaps not?

Hardbackwriter · 24/08/2020 13:53

I just looked at the report and the survey was sent out in May via schools inviting students to take it, so surely there's a big selection bias towards schools that were actively engaging with students and students that were actively engaging with what their school was sending?

polkadotpjs · 24/08/2020 17:49

Mine haven't thrived at all sadly but I'm glad if it helped some. Mine have become insular and screen addicts as we've had to work and cannot offer all that school can

tootyfruitypickle · 24/08/2020 20:12

I did some surveys like this and reported early on that both myself and dd were significantly less anxious. However I would say now we are more anxious with a dose of depression thrown in for good measure! His survey could be out of date now .

tootyfruitypickle · 24/08/2020 20:15

Although dd hated remote learning . It was the break from social anxiety that made her a bit better. Course now she’s a million times worse for lack of social interaction.

BogRollBOGOF · 24/08/2020 20:35

DS1 is 9 so obviously several years under the age questioned. He has recently diagnised ASD, dyspraxia and dyslexia. He's been more relaxed and less anxious with limited social contact and 5 months of time at home playing minecraft. Home learning was a disaster (as it seems it was for all the families I've spoken to).
However he has to grow up knowing how to function in society. He may be content to be in his own quiet world, but long term that does him a disservice.

DS2 (7) on the other hand was frankly in a depressed mood by mid-June when the weather was shit and he hadn't seen anyone for nearly 3 months and hadn't been anywhere more exciting than for a walk/ to the supermarket. He flopped lethargically on my bed staring at the TV and got into stinking, rude, defiant moods. Fortunately as more stimulating opportunities have opened up he's returned to his usual sunny, cheerful disposition.

The school system certainly has its weaknesses, especially for children with additional needs (including emotionally). It's not that lockdown was a good thing, we need to improve the education system and treat children as young humans, not data sources.

YoureBreakingMyHeartCecilia · 24/08/2020 20:54

I think school can be enormously stressful for introverts. All that enforced time around other people day after day with no escape (can you tell I’m an introvert???)

My DD is only 7 but she finds the social side of school immensely stressful, she needs a lot of downtime after school and really struggles eg with the rounds of play dates and activities that most of her peer group seem to do.

This whole situation has made me really perceive how different people are and how the world is built for extroverts.

ScrapThatThen · 24/08/2020 20:58

The other factor is that children and teens benefit from more time with their parents (even when relationships are not perfect).

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