%0 Journal Article
%T Children and Workers Well-Being in Belgian French-Speaking Primary Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic
%A Kelly Cremer
%A Julie Fr¨¨re
%A Olga Chatzis
%A Beno£¿t Kabamba
%A Florence Renard
%A Mathilde De Keukeleire
%A Ricardo De Mendonca
%A Dimitri Van der Linden
%A Annie Robert
%J Health
%P 676-694
%@ 1949-5005
%D 2023
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/health.2023.156043
%X Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of measures were taken worldwide to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and in many ways, changed human life. All these measures had harmful consequences and impacted the well-being of many people. Children were one of the most vulnerable groups. We conducted the present study to assess children¡¯s and staff¡¯s well-being in French-speaking primary schools in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A 37-question questionnaire for each child based on the Revised Children¡¯s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), and a 14-question questionnaire for each staff based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale was undertaken in order to assess the well-being. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to assess the relationship between RCMAS or HAD and other explanatory variables. Staff reported their perception of their current life and their future life in 5 years on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: A total of 231 children and 221 staff in 11 primary schools answered the well-being questionnaire between January and May 2021. 53% (122/231) of children had symptoms of anxiety. Girls reported more anxiety symptoms than boys (¡Ý10: 59%; Adj OR = 2.25; 95% CI [1.28; 4.03]). 52% (120/231) of children had a definite state of social desirability. According to age, the youngest (6 - 7 years) children were more likely to have social desirability (¡Ý5: 71%; Adj OR = 3.44; 95% CI [1.53; 8.09]) compared to the oldest (10 - 12 years). Children who did not practice outdoor/street activities were more likely to have social desirability (¡Ý5: 60%; Adj OR = 2.59; 95% CI [1.38; 4.99]). In schools with a higher local incidence of SARS-CoV-2, children were more likely to have social desirability (¡Ý5: 64%; Adj OR = 2.15; 95% CI [1.13; 4.17]). In schools with a lower socioeconomic status, children were more likely to have social desirability (¡Ý5: 72%; Adj OR = 2.74; 95% CI [1.23; 6.37]). Higher RCMAS anxiety (r = −0.18; p < 0.05), physiological manifestations (r = −0.23; p < 0.05), concentration and social anxiety (r = −0.20; p < 0.05) scores were associated with a lower social desirability score. 16% (35/221) of staff had a definite state of anxiety. Staff working in larger schools reported less anxiety (¡Ý11: 10% OR = 0.34; 95% CI [0.15; 0.77]). Staff reported lower scores for the perceived
%K COVID-19
%K Well-Being
%K Children
%K Schools
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=126075