Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study
BackgroundThe literature is equivocal as to whether the predicted negative mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic came to fruition. Some quantitative studies report increased emotional problems and depression; others report improved mental health and well-being. Qualit...
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63634 |
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| author | Natalia K Rojas Sam Martin Mario Cortina-Borja Roz Shafran Lana Fox-Smith Terence Stephenson Brian C F Ching Anaïs d'Oelsnitz Tom Norris Yue Xu Kelsey McOwat Emma Dalrymple Isobel Heyman Tamsin Ford Trudie Chalder Ruth Simmons Snehal M Pinto Pereira |
| author_facet | Natalia K Rojas Sam Martin Mario Cortina-Borja Roz Shafran Lana Fox-Smith Terence Stephenson Brian C F Ching Anaïs d'Oelsnitz Tom Norris Yue Xu Kelsey McOwat Emma Dalrymple Isobel Heyman Tamsin Ford Trudie Chalder Ruth Simmons Snehal M Pinto Pereira |
| author_sort | Natalia K Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundThe literature is equivocal as to whether the predicted negative mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic came to fruition. Some quantitative studies report increased emotional problems and depression; others report improved mental health and well-being. Qualitative explorations reveal heterogeneity, with themes ranging from feelings of loss to growth and development.
ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze free-text responses from children and young people participating in the Children and Young People With Long COVID study to get a clearer understanding of how young people were feeling during the pandemic.
MethodsA total of 8224 free-text responses from children and young people were analyzed using InfraNodus, an artificial intelligence–powered text network analysis tool, to determine the most prevalent topics. A random subsample of 411 (5%) of the 8224 responses underwent a manual sentiment analysis; this was reweighted to represent the general population of children and young people in England.
ResultsExperiences fell into 6 main overlapping topical clusters: school, examination stress, mental health, emotional impact of the pandemic, social and family support, and physical health (including COVID-19 symptoms). Sentiment analysis showed that statements were largely negative (314/411, 76.4%), with a small proportion being positive (57/411, 13.9%). Those reporting negative sentiment were mostly female (227/314, 72.3%), while those reporting positive sentiment were mostly older (170/314, 54.1%). There were significant observed associations between sentiment and COVID-19 status as well as sex (P=.001 and P<.001, respectively) such that the majority of the responses, regardless of COVID-19 status or sex, were negative; for example, 84.1% (227/270) of the responses from female individuals and 61.7% (87/141) of those from male individuals were negative. There were no observed associations between sentiment and all other examined demographics. The results were broadly similar when reweighted to the general population of children and young people in England: 78.52% (negative), 13.23% (positive), and 8.24% (neutral).
ConclusionsWe used InfraNodus to analyze free-text responses from a large sample of children and young people. The majority of responses (314/411, 76.4%) were negative, and many of the children and young people reported experiencing distress across a range of domains related to school, social situations, and mental health. Our findings add to the literature, highlighting the importance of specific considerations for children and young people when responding to national emergencies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b8eed6515454ddba3350ecda18e549c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b8eed6515454ddba3350ecda18e549c2025-01-28T18:15:36ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-01-0127e6363410.2196/63634Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID StudyNatalia K Rojashttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6615-9618Sam Martinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4466-8374Mario Cortina-Borjahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0627-2624Roz Shafranhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2729-4961Lana Fox-Smithhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7434-2762Terence Stephensonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8871-7847Brian C F Chinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-9793Anaïs d'Oelsnitzhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-0770-3049Tom Norrishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9140-0776Yue Xuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5239-7378Kelsey McOwathttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4170-1498Emma Dalrymplehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6645-932XIsobel Heymanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7358-9766Tamsin Fordhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5295-4904Trudie Chalderhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0775-1045Ruth Simmonshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8156-0146Snehal M Pinto Pereirahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0876-8757 BackgroundThe literature is equivocal as to whether the predicted negative mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic came to fruition. Some quantitative studies report increased emotional problems and depression; others report improved mental health and well-being. Qualitative explorations reveal heterogeneity, with themes ranging from feelings of loss to growth and development. ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze free-text responses from children and young people participating in the Children and Young People With Long COVID study to get a clearer understanding of how young people were feeling during the pandemic. MethodsA total of 8224 free-text responses from children and young people were analyzed using InfraNodus, an artificial intelligence–powered text network analysis tool, to determine the most prevalent topics. A random subsample of 411 (5%) of the 8224 responses underwent a manual sentiment analysis; this was reweighted to represent the general population of children and young people in England. ResultsExperiences fell into 6 main overlapping topical clusters: school, examination stress, mental health, emotional impact of the pandemic, social and family support, and physical health (including COVID-19 symptoms). Sentiment analysis showed that statements were largely negative (314/411, 76.4%), with a small proportion being positive (57/411, 13.9%). Those reporting negative sentiment were mostly female (227/314, 72.3%), while those reporting positive sentiment were mostly older (170/314, 54.1%). There were significant observed associations between sentiment and COVID-19 status as well as sex (P=.001 and P<.001, respectively) such that the majority of the responses, regardless of COVID-19 status or sex, were negative; for example, 84.1% (227/270) of the responses from female individuals and 61.7% (87/141) of those from male individuals were negative. There were no observed associations between sentiment and all other examined demographics. The results were broadly similar when reweighted to the general population of children and young people in England: 78.52% (negative), 13.23% (positive), and 8.24% (neutral). ConclusionsWe used InfraNodus to analyze free-text responses from a large sample of children and young people. The majority of responses (314/411, 76.4%) were negative, and many of the children and young people reported experiencing distress across a range of domains related to school, social situations, and mental health. Our findings add to the literature, highlighting the importance of specific considerations for children and young people when responding to national emergencies.https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63634 |
| spellingShingle | Natalia K Rojas Sam Martin Mario Cortina-Borja Roz Shafran Lana Fox-Smith Terence Stephenson Brian C F Ching Anaïs d'Oelsnitz Tom Norris Yue Xu Kelsey McOwat Emma Dalrymple Isobel Heyman Tamsin Ford Trudie Chalder Ruth Simmons Snehal M Pinto Pereira Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study |
| title_full | Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study |
| title_fullStr | Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study |
| title_short | Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study |
| title_sort | health and experiences during the covid 19 pandemic among children and young people analysis of free text responses from the children and young people with long covid study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63634 |
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