Commentary: The impact of Covid-19 on psychopathology in children and young people worldwide – reflections on Newlove-Delgado et al. (2023)

Abstract

In the past 3 years, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an impressive flourishing body of publications on the impact of the pandemic and related restrictions on the mental health of children and young people. It was about time for a rigorous quantitative evidence synthesis of this large body of research. Newlove-Delgado et al. (J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 2022) took on this challenge by completing a systematic review with meta-analysis of epidemiological studies on the impact of Covid-19 on psychopathology in children and adolescents, featured in the 2023 Annual Research Review series of the Journal. Overall, this meta-analysis shows that the relationship between mental health and Covid-19 pandemic in children and adolescents is complex and, as such, it ought to be addressed by studies using rigorous methods and advanced analytic strategies. Collectively, as a field, we should and could do better with regards to the scope and quality of the studies in this area.