For Children, Anxiety Is More Dangerous Than COVID-19

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - University of Indonesia psychologist Rose Mini Agoes Salim asked all parents not to worry too much about the corona virus or COVID-19. Because, excessive anxiety will be contagious to children and will have a negative impact on their health.

For that, parents must be calm when giving explanations to children about corona. In addition, when providing education about corona, parents must explain it in an appropriate way so that it affects the child's psychology.

"Worry is very easy to transmit. This means that anxious parents will make their children anxious. Therefore, do not provide information that this corona will definitely die," said Rose Mini in a press conference broadcast live via YouTube, Thursday, March 19. .

Then, materials in conveying understanding of COVID-19 must also be chosen that calm the child. One of them can be conveyed by saying that many corona patients have recovered.

Furthermore, parents must teach their children to apply preventive measures with a healthy lifestyle and maintain cleanliness. So that, the child's psychology will not be disturbed and burdened by the worries about COVID-19.

"Give children an understanding that the Corona virus can be prevented and cured, also emphasize the evidence that people with the virus can recover," said Rose Mini.

Another psychologist, Kassandra Putranto, said that children will easily imitate their parents. Therefore, when parents are anxious, children will also be anxious.

By imitating the excessive anxiety of the parents, the chances of the child contracting COVID-19 will be even greater. Because, anxiety makes the body's immunity decreases.

"Because anxiety and panic reduce immunity. So the risk of contracting COVID-19 is higher," said Kassandra.

In fact, according to him, COVID-19 is not too dangerous for children who have good immunity. Based on the data it has collected, this virus has little impact on children.

However, children and adolescents can become carriers or carriers of the virus and pass it on to other people. For that, it is important to teach children to always clean themselves after going outside the room or holding public objects.

"Basically a virus that can infect those who are susceptible. Meanwhile, those with high immunity have the potential to become carriers. Hence, it is highly recommended to adopt a healthy lifestyle," said Kassandra.