Social connectedness at the playground before and after COVID-19 school closure

Journal article (2023)

Authors

Adva Eichengreen Universiteit Leiden
Yung-Ting Tsou Universiteit Leiden
Maedeh Nasri Universiteit Leiden
Lisa Maria van Klaveren Universiteit van Amsterdam
Boya LI Universiteit Leiden
A. Koutamanis Design & Construction Management - Architecture and the Built Environment
Mitra Baratchi Universiteit Leiden
Els M.A. Blijd-Hoogewys INTER-PSY, University Medical Center Groningen
Joost Kok University of Twente
Carolien Rieffe University of London, Universiteit Leiden, University of Twente
Research Group
Design & Construction Management (Architecture and the Built Environment) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 Adva Eichengreen, Yung Ting Tsou, Maedeh Nasri, Lisa Maria van Klaveren, Boya Li, A. Koutamanis, Mitra Baratchi, Els Blijd-Hoogewys, Joost Kok, Carolien Rieffe
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101562
COVID-19 Sensors Children Playground Social connectedness
More Info
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Department

Management in the Built Environment

Research Group

Design & Construction Management

Abstract

Social connectedness at school is crucial to children's development, yet very little is known about the way it has been affected by school closures during COVID-19 pandemic. We compared pre-post lockdown levels of social connectedness at a school playground in forty-three primary school-aged children, using wearable sensors, observations, peer nominations and self-reports. Upon school reopening, findings from sensors and peer nominations indicated increases in children's interaction time, network diversity and network centrality. Group observations indicated a decrease in no-play social interactions and an increase in children's involvement in social play. Explorative analyses did not reveal relations between changes in peer connectedness and pre-lockdown levels of peer connectedness or social contact during the lockdown period. Findings pointed at the role of recess in contributing to children's social well-being and the importance of attending to their social needs upon reopening.