English Abstract
a b s t r a c t:
Background: COVID-19 home confinement protracted extended cohabitation and drastic changes in the children’s lifestyle behaviors. During this time, mothers faced the foremost challenge to preserve their children’s physical and psychological well-being. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate children’s technology overuse, behavioral and psychosocial alterations during COVID-19 home confinement. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Alexandria city, Egypt. A sample of 375 mothers who had school-age children completed the Children’s Behavioral and Psychosocial Changes during Home Confinement Questionnaire. Findings: More than three-quarters of mothers reported alterations in children’s behaviors related to technology overuse (76.8%). Similarly, 51.5% and 44.8% of mothers reported aggressive behaviors and alterations in children’s feelings during COVID-19. Changes in eating patterns (50.7%), sleeping patterns (48.3%), physical activity (54.9%), and personal hygiene (54.4%) were also perceived as major challenges. Conclusion: Home confinement related to the COVID-19 pandemic was identified as a great source of alteration in children’s behaviors and psychosocial status. Children overused technology as a solely recreational outlet during confinement time. Consequently, mothers faced major challenges regarding the alteration in their children’s lifestyle, technology overuse, disobedience, aggressive behaviors, feelings, and social interaction. So, COVID19-related behavioral changes could be combated by adopting parents’ guidelines. Nurses play a critical role in educating parents to keep an open channel of communication with
