Psychosocial Health of School-aged Children during the Initial COVID-19 Safer-At-Home School Mandates in Florida: A cross-sectional study

Background: Given the emerging literature regarding the impacts of lockdown measures on mental health, this study aims to identify risk factors in school-aged children for being at risk for psychosocial disorders during the COVID-19 Safer-at-Home School mandates in Florida Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2020 (n=280). Bivariate analysis and logistic and muultinomial logistic regression models are used to examine socio-demographic and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) predictors of anxiety,depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Results: Loss of household income was associated with being at risk for depression[aOR=3.130, 95% CI= (1.41-6.97)], anxiety [aOR=2.531, 95%CI= (1.154-5.551)], and OCD [aOR=2.90, 95%CI= (1.32-6.36)]. Being female was associated with risk for depression [aOR=1.72, 95% CI=(1.02-2.93)], anxiety [aOR=1.75, 95% CI=(1.04-2.97)],and OCD[aOR=1.764, 95%CI= (1.027-3.028)]. Parental practices that are protective against COVID-19 were associated with children being at risk of depression[aOR=1.55, 95% CI= (1.04-2.31)]. Being at a lower school level was risk factor for anxiety and OCD. Conclusions: Efforts to address mental health risk in children, as a result schools should prioritize girls, younger children, and children of families who lose income.Limiting the spread of COVID-19 through school closure may exacerbate the risk of psychosocial disorders in children, thus school administrators should move quickly totarget those at greatest risk.