School Closures and Social Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In their recent systematic review, Loades et al.1 reported on the effects that social isolation and loneliness may have on children and adolescents during the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with their findings suggesting associations between social anxiety and loneliness/social isolation. While this is undoubtedly true for many individuals, it is also worth commenting upon the subset of children and youth with social phobia for whom a temporary lessening of distress may be observed while schools are closed due to a lack of exposure to anxiety-provoking situations in the school environment.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research