Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown

Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran; Balan Senthilkumar; Mohini Bhat; Ashok Jacob Mathews

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

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Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown

Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran^*

, Balan Senthilkumar

, Mohini Bhat

, Ashok Jacob Mathews

Published in American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics (Volume 15, Issue 1)

Received: 16 January 2026 Accepted: 30 January 2026 Published: 9 February 2026

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a strong impact on the young population in Kerala with increased cases of depressive, anxious and stress-related conditions. The objective of the current exploration was to determine the mental health condition of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years in the state during the strict lockdown that was in place between April and June 2021. In this direction, a cross-sectional online survey with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), which is reasonably adjusted to the assessment of pediatric respondents, was conducted, and about 400 answers were gained by parents and guardians 383 responses taken for this study. One-way analysis of variance conducted on STATA -13 was used to explain the main trends and determine the statistical significance. The DASS-21 results analysis showed that the test group of participants had moderate means on such indicators as depression (M = 9.85), anxiety (M = 9.19), and stress (M = 9.18). According to ANOVA, the statistically significant value of residential area was not revealed in relation to child depression (p=0.783), anxiety (p=0.471) and stress (p=0.130). The level of psychological distress was not higher in rural households than in semi-urban or urban households, and hence, the residential location did not have effects on the mental-health outcomes of participants. According to the data the mild stress was observed in 4 children only (1.04%), and no moderate, severe, or extremely severe stress symptoms were found. The general results were that 98.95% of the sample was in the normal stress range, meaning that children had emotional and mental symptoms (depression and anxiety), but responses of physiological stress were much rarer. Regardless of the levels of distress, the proportion of respondents who had used professional help was only 10%, which highlights a dire need to have stigma reduction efforts and policy-level interventions. The results defined salient correlations between demographic factors, namely, educational level, pre-existing mental health history, and levels of severity with the emotional wellbeing of the children.

Published in	American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics (Volume 15, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
Page(s)	19-26
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Children Mental Health Outcomes, DASS-21, MANOVA, Kerala

References

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[3]	Bera, L., Souchon, M., Ladsous, A., Colin, V., & Lopez-Castroman, J. (2022). Emotional and behavioral impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 311, 114492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114492
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[5]	Fegert, J. M., Vitiello, B., Plener, P. L., & Clemens, V. (2020). Challenges and burden of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: A narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 877–879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01529-4
[6]	Frentzen, E., Fegert, J. M., Martin, A., et al. (2025). Child and adolescent mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic: An overview of key findings from a thematic series. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19, 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00910-8 (Springer Link).
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[10]	Madigan, S., Racine, N., Vaillancourt, T., Korczak, D. J., Hewitt, J. M. A., Pador, P., et al. (2023). Changes in depression and anxiety among children and adolescents from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 6(5), e2310930. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.10930
[11]	Orgilés, M., Morales, A., Delvecchio, E., Mazzeschi, C., & Espada, J. P. (2020). Immediate psychological effects of the COVID-19 quarantine in youth from Italy and Spain. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 579038. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.579038
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APA Style

Ramachandran, D. V., Senthilkumar, B., Bhat, M., Mathews, A. J. (2026). Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 15(1), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

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ACS Style

Ramachandran, D. V.; Senthilkumar, B.; Bhat, M.; Mathews, A. J. Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown. Am. J. Theor. Appl. Stat. 2026, 15(1), 19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

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AMA Style

Ramachandran DV, Senthilkumar B, Bhat M, Mathews AJ. Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown. Am J Theor Appl Stat. 2026;15(1):19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13,
  author = {Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran and Balan Senthilkumar and Mohini Bhat and Ashok Jacob Mathews},
  title = {Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown},
  journal = {American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics},
  volume = {15},
  number = {1},
  pages = {19-26},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtas.20261501.13},
  abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic caused a strong impact on the young population in Kerala with increased cases of depressive, anxious and stress-related conditions. The objective of the current exploration was to determine the mental health condition of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years in the state during the strict lockdown that was in place between April and June 2021. In this direction, a cross-sectional online survey with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), which is reasonably adjusted to the assessment of pediatric respondents, was conducted, and about 400 answers were gained by parents and guardians 383 responses taken for this study. One-way analysis of variance conducted on STATA -13 was used to explain the main trends and determine the statistical significance. The DASS-21 results analysis showed that the test group of participants had moderate means on such indicators as depression (M = 9.85), anxiety (M = 9.19), and stress (M = 9.18). According to ANOVA, the statistically significant value of residential area was not revealed in relation to child depression (p=0.783), anxiety (p=0.471) and stress (p=0.130). The level of psychological distress was not higher in rural households than in semi-urban or urban households, and hence, the residential location did not have effects on the mental-health outcomes of participants. According to the data the mild stress was observed in 4 children only (1.04%), and no moderate, severe, or extremely severe stress symptoms were found. The general results were that 98.95% of the sample was in the normal stress range, meaning that children had emotional and mental symptoms (depression and anxiety), but responses of physiological stress were much rarer. Regardless of the levels of distress, the proportion of respondents who had used professional help was only 10%, which highlights a dire need to have stigma reduction efforts and policy-level interventions. The results defined salient correlations between demographic factors, namely, educational level, pre-existing mental health history, and levels of severity with the emotional wellbeing of the children.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown
AU  - Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran
AU  - Balan Senthilkumar
AU  - Mohini Bhat
AU  - Ashok Jacob Mathews
Y1  - 2026/02/09
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
T2  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JF  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JO  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
SP  - 19
EP  - 26
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-9006
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
AB  - The COVID-19 pandemic caused a strong impact on the young population in Kerala with increased cases of depressive, anxious and stress-related conditions. The objective of the current exploration was to determine the mental health condition of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years in the state during the strict lockdown that was in place between April and June 2021. In this direction, a cross-sectional online survey with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), which is reasonably adjusted to the assessment of pediatric respondents, was conducted, and about 400 answers were gained by parents and guardians 383 responses taken for this study. One-way analysis of variance conducted on STATA -13 was used to explain the main trends and determine the statistical significance. The DASS-21 results analysis showed that the test group of participants had moderate means on such indicators as depression (M = 9.85), anxiety (M = 9.19), and stress (M = 9.18). According to ANOVA, the statistically significant value of residential area was not revealed in relation to child depression (p=0.783), anxiety (p=0.471) and stress (p=0.130). The level of psychological distress was not higher in rural households than in semi-urban or urban households, and hence, the residential location did not have effects on the mental-health outcomes of participants. According to the data the mild stress was observed in 4 children only (1.04%), and no moderate, severe, or extremely severe stress symptoms were found. The general results were that 98.95% of the sample was in the normal stress range, meaning that children had emotional and mental symptoms (depression and anxiety), but responses of physiological stress were much rarer. Regardless of the levels of distress, the proportion of respondents who had used professional help was only 10%, which highlights a dire need to have stigma reduction efforts and policy-level interventions. The results defined salient correlations between demographic factors, namely, educational level, pre-existing mental health history, and levels of severity with the emotional wellbeing of the children.
VL  - 15
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran

Department of Statistics, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7801-0776
Balan Senthilkumar

PG Department of Statistics, Thanthai Periyar Government Arts & Science College (Autonomous), Trichy, India

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-2489-4582
Mohini Bhat

Department of Management, Christ Academy Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0655-6555
Ashok Jacob Mathews

Department of Political Science, St. Claret College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, India

http://orcid.org/0009-0006-7082-0102

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APA Style

Ramachandran, D. V., Senthilkumar, B., Bhat, M., Mathews, A. J. (2026). Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 15(1), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

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ACS Style

Ramachandran, D. V.; Senthilkumar, B.; Bhat, M.; Mathews, A. J. Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown. Am. J. Theor. Appl. Stat. 2026, 15(1), 19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

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AMA Style

Ramachandran DV, Senthilkumar B, Bhat M, Mathews AJ. Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown. Am J Theor Appl Stat. 2026;15(1):19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13,
  author = {Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran and Balan Senthilkumar and Mohini Bhat and Ashok Jacob Mathews},
  title = {Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown},
  journal = {American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics},
  volume = {15},
  number = {1},
  pages = {19-26},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtas.20261501.13},
  abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic caused a strong impact on the young population in Kerala with increased cases of depressive, anxious and stress-related conditions. The objective of the current exploration was to determine the mental health condition of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years in the state during the strict lockdown that was in place between April and June 2021. In this direction, a cross-sectional online survey with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), which is reasonably adjusted to the assessment of pediatric respondents, was conducted, and about 400 answers were gained by parents and guardians 383 responses taken for this study. One-way analysis of variance conducted on STATA -13 was used to explain the main trends and determine the statistical significance. The DASS-21 results analysis showed that the test group of participants had moderate means on such indicators as depression (M = 9.85), anxiety (M = 9.19), and stress (M = 9.18). According to ANOVA, the statistically significant value of residential area was not revealed in relation to child depression (p=0.783), anxiety (p=0.471) and stress (p=0.130). The level of psychological distress was not higher in rural households than in semi-urban or urban households, and hence, the residential location did not have effects on the mental-health outcomes of participants. According to the data the mild stress was observed in 4 children only (1.04%), and no moderate, severe, or extremely severe stress symptoms were found. The general results were that 98.95% of the sample was in the normal stress range, meaning that children had emotional and mental symptoms (depression and anxiety), but responses of physiological stress were much rarer. Regardless of the levels of distress, the proportion of respondents who had used professional help was only 10%, which highlights a dire need to have stigma reduction efforts and policy-level interventions. The results defined salient correlations between demographic factors, namely, educational level, pre-existing mental health history, and levels of severity with the emotional wellbeing of the children.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Statistical Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels Among Children in Kerala During Lockdown
AU  - Divya Valiyattil Ramachandran
AU  - Balan Senthilkumar
AU  - Mohini Bhat
AU  - Ashok Jacob Mathews
Y1  - 2026/02/09
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
T2  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JF  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
JO  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
SP  - 19
EP  - 26
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-9006
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20261501.13
AB  - The COVID-19 pandemic caused a strong impact on the young population in Kerala with increased cases of depressive, anxious and stress-related conditions. The objective of the current exploration was to determine the mental health condition of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years in the state during the strict lockdown that was in place between April and June 2021. In this direction, a cross-sectional online survey with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), which is reasonably adjusted to the assessment of pediatric respondents, was conducted, and about 400 answers were gained by parents and guardians 383 responses taken for this study. One-way analysis of variance conducted on STATA -13 was used to explain the main trends and determine the statistical significance. The DASS-21 results analysis showed that the test group of participants had moderate means on such indicators as depression (M = 9.85), anxiety (M = 9.19), and stress (M = 9.18). According to ANOVA, the statistically significant value of residential area was not revealed in relation to child depression (p=0.783), anxiety (p=0.471) and stress (p=0.130). The level of psychological distress was not higher in rural households than in semi-urban or urban households, and hence, the residential location did not have effects on the mental-health outcomes of participants. According to the data the mild stress was observed in 4 children only (1.04%), and no moderate, severe, or extremely severe stress symptoms were found. The general results were that 98.95% of the sample was in the normal stress range, meaning that children had emotional and mental symptoms (depression and anxiety), but responses of physiological stress were much rarer. Regardless of the levels of distress, the proportion of respondents who had used professional help was only 10%, which highlights a dire need to have stigma reduction efforts and policy-level interventions. The results defined salient correlations between demographic factors, namely, educational level, pre-existing mental health history, and levels of severity with the emotional wellbeing of the children.
VL  - 15
IS  - 1
ER  -

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