Comparison of Anxiety of the Children of Healthcare Workers and non-Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: The children of healthcare workers(HCWs) constitute a highly vulnerable group to anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and severity of anxiety between children of HCWs and non-HCWs while identifying factors contributing to anxiety.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 334 children aged between 6 and 17 years to assess their anxiety levels. The risk factors related to anxiety were determined using binary logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS: Significant risk factors for anxiety included having parents who were HCWs, having parents with psychiatric disorders, changes in household members, and following news updates (p: 0.045, 0.022, 0.021, and 0.024, respectively). Children of HCWs working in COVID clinics exhibited a higher prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety than other groups (p: 0.036). Additionally, prolonged screen time and changes in sleep duration were more common in children with moderate to severe anxiety.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results suggest that children of HCWs may be more prone to anxiety symptoms than children of parents in other professions.