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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...during-pandemic-have-lower-iqs-us-study-finds
Children born during pandemic have lower IQs, US study finds
Researchers blame lack of stimulation as parents balanced childcare with working from home
Natalie Grover Science correspondent
Thu 12 Aug 2021 14.45 EDT
...
In the decade preceding the pandemic, the mean IQ score on standardised tests for children aged between three months and three years of age hovered around 100, but for children born during the pandemic that number tumbled to 78, according to the analysis, which is yet to be peer-reviewed.
“It’s not subtle by any stretch,” said Deoni. “You don’t typically see things like that, outside of major cognitive disorders.”
The study included 672 children from the state of Rhode Island. Of these, 188 were born after July 2020 and 308 were born prior to January 2019, while 176 were born between January 2019 and March 2020. The children included in the study were born full-term, had no developmental disabilities and were mostly white.
Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds fared worse in the tests, the researchers found.
The biggest reason behind the falling scores is likely the lack of stimulation and interaction at home, said Deoni. “Parents are stressed and frazzled … that interaction the child would normally get has decreased substantially.”...
Children born during pandemic have lower IQs, US study finds
Researchers blame lack of stimulation as parents balanced childcare with working from home
Natalie Grover Science correspondent
Thu 12 Aug 2021 14.45 EDT
...
In the decade preceding the pandemic, the mean IQ score on standardised tests for children aged between three months and three years of age hovered around 100, but for children born during the pandemic that number tumbled to 78, according to the analysis, which is yet to be peer-reviewed.
“It’s not subtle by any stretch,” said Deoni. “You don’t typically see things like that, outside of major cognitive disorders.”
The study included 672 children from the state of Rhode Island. Of these, 188 were born after July 2020 and 308 were born prior to January 2019, while 176 were born between January 2019 and March 2020. The children included in the study were born full-term, had no developmental disabilities and were mostly white.
Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds fared worse in the tests, the researchers found.
The biggest reason behind the falling scores is likely the lack of stimulation and interaction at home, said Deoni. “Parents are stressed and frazzled … that interaction the child would normally get has decreased substantially.”...
