Social Isolation Has Psychological Consequences for German Children

• ByAnton Grillo
• (General Dispatch) – In Germany, children have returned to school after 2 months of confinement. When Pollina Dinner, a 9 year old girl, was interviewed, she was very excited to see her friends again but worried about the Covid 19.

• Studies that have been carried out affirm the psychological problem that is being generated, due to the social limitations, where approximately 13.7 children and adolescents in Germany present high levels of stress and fear to return to their activities.

• Although the research is recent, “We don’t have long-term studies yet, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence of a crisis-driven increase in hospitalizations and overflowing practices of psychologists,” Julia Asbrand, professor of child and youth psychology in Berlin.

• The stress that German children have been experiencing recently has manifested itself in health problems such as stomachaches and headaches.

• The attitude of the children has changed, it is no longer the same as sharing with their friends in the park or interacting in the classroom, at home they gain weight, without practicing physical activities.

• Although efforts are being made to provide education through videoconferencing and the Internet, there are problems where the aim is to maintain the quality of education and that children focus on carrying out the activities themselves and not a third party.

• Germany has begun to make schools more flexible in allowing first and third graders to return to school, subject to appropriate security measures. The nation’s priority is to open up education at all levels.

• there is concern about a third wave of infections and it is not clear how fast the virus is spreading among school children, although they are not as much at risk as older adults.

•  The government is trying to find solutions to reduce the number of cases resulting from confinement.

Adittional Information:

AP News: Experts notice pandemic’s mental health toll on German youth

Washington Post: Experts notice pandemic’s mental health toll on German youth