This microbriefing introduces evidence concerning the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people in Scotland
This is the fourth in a series of COVID-19 micro briefings developed by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health and Policy Scotland and written in collaboration with expert partner agencies.
This microbriefing introduces evidence concerning the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people in Scotland. In consolidating this evidence, it draws upon Scottish and comparable UK data. The evidence reviewed makes clear the impacts of rising poverty and food insecurity, digital exclusion, and disruption to public services on the wellbeing of children and young people. Specifically, the briefing presents a focus on impacts to physical health, mental health, welfare and education.
The evidence concerning the mechanisms through which the pandemic has adversely impacted on the lives of children and young people in Scotland are grouped under three key themes:
- Rising poverty and food insecurity
- Exclusion from online education
- Support service disruption.
The briefing then examines how these three areas have impacted children and young people’s physical health, mental health and wellbeing, welfare, education, social interactions and out-of-school activities.
It concludes with the implications of the evidence and the need for future researche to track the long-term mental and physical health outcomes of children and young people, the impacts of disruption in services, and impact of lockdown and school closures on the physical health and socio-emotional development of children and young people.
Key points
- The pandemic and related lockdowns have adversely impacted on children and young people. The evidence reviewed makes clear that families within disadvantaged areas have been disproportionately impacted.
- Rising poverty and food insecurity; exclusion from online learning; and support service disruption have been the key mechanisms through which disadvantaged children and young people have been disproportionately impacted. Adverse impacts include the physical and mental health of children and young people alongside child welfare, education and social interactions.
- A minimum basic income, increased living wage and re-establishment of uplift to universal credit could help address the poverty impact of COVID-19 on families.
- The third sector has played an essential role in supporting the most vulnerable families during the pandemic. This has underscored the societal benefits of well-functioning public and third sector and community partnership working.
If you require this publication in a different format, such as a plain text version, accessible PDF, audio, braille, BSL or large print, please email info@gcph.co.uk.
About the authors
This micro briefing has been co-written with Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland (CNS). CNS is focused on supporting efforts to reduce poverty and increase participation within communities, strengthening the voices and priorities of children and young people, and supporting partnerships and collaboration between organisations and services to enable change. Based in the University of Glasgow – and in partnership with the Glasgow Centre for Population Health – CNS is a place-based programme working to improve outcomes for all children and young people living in neighbourhoods with high levels of poverty.
