A tale of two cities: Examining the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on young children’s emotional distress.

Based on 814 3- to 4-year-olds (408 girls; Han Chinese: 97.5%) from Wuhan and Zhengzhou, two cities in China affected by COVID-19 to varying degrees, this study examined the impact of COVID-19 and lockdowns on children's emotional distress and its underlying family-level mechanisms. Children living in a city with "high-load" coronavirus and lockdown (Wuhan) exhibited more symptoms of anxiety/withdrawal, fear, and acting out than their counterparts living in a city with "low loads" (Zhengzhou; ds = .29∼.35). The differences were explained by differences in primary caregivers' worries about health and basic resources (e.g., food) between Wuhan and Zhengzhou (ds = .45∼.61). The findings highlight the importance of incorporating the impact of lockdowns on children and families in policy making in the context of a public health emergency. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).