"Feeling Depressed from Not Meeting Friends" The 'Corona Blue' Our Children Also Experience, Parents' Worries

72% of Adolescents Say "Joint Pain with Friends is Difficult"
Experts Say "Children and Adolescents More Vulnerable to 'Corona Blue' Than Adults"

On the 9th, a swing at a playground in a park in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, was tied off with a restricted access tape. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I just don't want to go outside.", "YouTube is the most fun."

As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) prolongs, the number of children and adolescents experiencing 'Corona Blue (depression)' is increasing. Since their emotional development is less mature and they are more vulnerable to external stimuli than adults, experts point out that if psychological quarantine is not properly implemented, it could lead to anxiety and depressive disorders in adulthood. Experts expressed concern that prolonged Corona Blue could result in antisocial tendencies.

Kim Mo (16), a first-year high school student, said, "Due to COVID-19, I haven't been able to attend school properly." He added, "When I couldn't go to school, I stayed home alone watching TV or studying. Since my parents are both working, I was often alone." He continued, "Without anyone to talk to, I became more depressed and kept self-deprecating."

Like Kim, the number of adolescents feeling anxious due to the spread of COVID-19 is increasing. According to a survey released in May by the Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute, 59.8% of 92 youths aged 9 to 24 reported feeling anxiety, worry, or fear after the spread of COVID-19.

72% of respondents cited 'not being able to meet friends' as a stress factor caused by COVID-19, followed by ▲online school opening (64.6%) ▲disruption of daily rhythm (64.6%) ▲frustration from having to stay home due to refraining from going out (62.2%).

In particular, Corona Blue can have a greater impact on children and adolescents than adults, requiring caution. In preschool children, persistent depression may manifest as bedwetting, thumb sucking, irritability, aggression, hyperactivity, and changes in eating habits.

Elementary school students may refuse to attend school or daycare, show decreased concentration, exhibit regressive attachment behaviors like acting like a baby, increased fear, and aggression. Adolescents in puberty may display delinquency, aggressive behavior, unexplained physical pain, or stress responses such as learning disabilities.

In June, a child at Daegu Baekhap Daycare Center in Jung-gu, Daegu, is having their temperature checked before entering the classroom. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As a result, posts expressing concerns about children complaining of 'Corona Blue' are increasingly appearing on online communities such as mom cafes. Due to refraining from going out because of COVID-19, children are not only complaining of lethargy but also seem to have weakened concentration from being absorbed in YouTube and other content.

A mom cafe member lamented, "I wonder if my children have Corona Blue because they absolutely don't want to go out. At first, they said 'I want to play' and 'I'm bored' and asked why they couldn't go out, but now they say no even when I suggest going outside." She added, "Their faces lack vitality and energy. It's so pitiful."

Netizens commented on the post, "Children should be going to school and playing with friends, but since they can't, they seem drained," "My child also doesn't want to leave the house. They just prefer watching YouTube," "At the beginning of COVID, my kids were desperate to go to the playground, but now they know they can't go out freely, so they just stare at their phones," and so on.

Parents' anxiety and worries are also reflected in related surveys. In a survey of 198 guardians with adolescent children conducted by the Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute, guardians cited ▲increased media use by children (77.8%) ▲irregular lifestyle habits (74.2%) ▲shrinkage of daily life (71.7%) ▲personal hygiene management (65.2%), and expressed difficulties such as ▲vague worries and anxiety (63.1%) ▲increased burden of childcare (63.1%).

Experts expressed concern that children may be more vulnerable to Corona Blue than adults. Professor Kwak Geumju of the Department of Psychology at Seoul National University analyzed, "Children may complain of 'Corona Blue' more severely than adults. Children have a strong active nature and need to engage in outdoor activities, but because they cannot go out due to COVID, they may experience depression."

She continued, "Children and adolescents have weaker rational thinking to suppress and endure things compared to adults. If depression lasts long due to COVID-19, violent tendencies may appear. They tend to express their emotions in other ways. Especially in upper elementary school students, hormonal changes occur, which may lead to stronger antisocial behavior such as showing irritation toward parents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.