Effect of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Children’s Behavior in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Background Children’s mental health is one of the major concerns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Multiple strategic policies are applied to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including boundaries closure, social distancing, lockdown, and quarantine. These measures affect the mental health of adults as well as children. In Saudi Arabia, many studies investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults’ mental health, but few were done on children. Children's behavior can be assessed through parents' observation, which can be an important indication of children's mental health. Objective This study aimed to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 quarantine on children's mental health and to evaluate the effect of familial and social-demographic characteristics on children’s psychology during the COVID-19 crisis in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Methods and materials A web-based, cross-sectional voluntary response survey including parents of 576 children aged 15 years and younger. The survey included familial and socio-demographic information as well as a questionnaire examining the behavioral, mental, and emotional changes in children during the COVID-19 quarantine. Results Twenty-four point seven percent (24.7%) of children were found to have negative psychological effects due to the COVID-19-associated quarantine in the Makkah region. This prevalence was related to the marital status of the parents, the children's age, and the presence of outdoor space in the house. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of psychological support needed for children and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies are required to explore whether this psychological impact will subside after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.