Table 2 Child emotional and behavioral symptoms (measured with the PSC-17) and social risks (measured with THRIVE) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
From: Changes in psychosocial functioning among urban, school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic
|  | Pre-pandemic | Mid-pandemic | Difference testing | Cohen’s d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Child emotional and behavioral symptoms | ||||
 PSC-17 total problems | ||||
  Mean score (SD) | 5.59 (5.80) | 8.04 (6.41) | t(152) = 6.17*** | 0.50 |
  % positive | 8 | 18 | z = 2.64** | |
 PSC-17 internalizing problems | ||||
  Mean score (SD) | 1.06 (1.56) | 2.18 (2.20) | t(161) = 6.92*** | 0.52 |
  % positive | 5 | 18 | z = 3.72*** | |
 PSC-17 externalizing problems | ||||
  Mean score (SD) | 1.85 (2.39) | 2.58 (2.69) | t(160) = 3.99*** | 0.35 |
  % positive | 7 | 10 | z = 0.81 | |
 PSC-17 attention problems | ||||
  Mean score (SD) | 2.68 (2.78) | 3.23 (2.64) | t(162) = 3.34** | 0.37 |
  % positive | 14 | 12 | z = − 0.63 | |
THRIVE total score | ||||
 Mean (SD) | 0.97 (1.60) | 2.12 (2.12) | t(100) = 6.49*** | 0.58 |
Specific social risks | % positive | % positive | z-score |
|---|---|---|---|
Housing insecurity | 3 | 12 | 2.81** |
Food insecurity | 16 | 50 | 6.74*** |
Difficulty with transportation | 12 | 14 | 0.39 |
Difficulty affording meds | 6 | 9 | 1.05 |
Difficulty paying bills | 16 | 38 | 4.00*** |
Difficulty with dependent care | 1 | 10 | 3.27** |
Unemployment | 3 | 10 | 2.55* |
Interest in more education | 20 | 39 | 3.40*** |