Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the problem behaviors of children within the framework of parental opinions. It furthermore examined how certain variables such as contact with an individual infected with COVID-19, positive COVID-19 test results in the family and/or close community, and death from COVID-19 in the family and/or close community affected the changes in children’s habits and problem behaviors. Methods: : The study was conducted using a case study design in accordance with the qualitative research method. Within the scope of the study, 20 parents with children between 4 and 6 years of age were interviewed. Research data were collected with semi-structured interview forms and were analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: : The analysis of parental opinions revealed that some favorable and unfavorable changes occurred in the children’s playing, sleeping, eating, and hygiene habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been determined that the children’s use of televisions, tablets, and phones increased during this period. Emotional problems such as boredom, fear, anxiety, tantrums, irritability, and impatience were found to be more common in children compared to the pre-pandemic period, together with behavioral problems such as non-obedience, desire to attract attention, aggression, excessive speaking, hyperactivity, conflicts between siblings, speaking loudly, and increased impulses. Conclusions: : In line with the parental opinions, it is observed that the school closures, social isolation, and children’s inability to spend time with their peers affect the children particularly adversely. This study shows that children cannot burn their energy sufficiently due to their limited range of movement in the house. In addition, it is observed that some of the children had problems such as reluctance to sleep alone and fear of the dark from the beginning of the pandemic. It was found noteworthy that the children experienced fear and anxiety not only about the risk of being infected with the virus but also about losing their parents.
Investigation of the Problem Behaviors Emerging in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic