A recent preprint study indicates that children born during the COVID-19 pandemic exhibit lower IQ scores, primarily due to reduced parental stimulation amid heightened stress from balancing work and childcare.
Previous U.S. research has linked maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy to higher risks of preterm and very preterm births. Now, a new preprint published on medRxiv on August 11, 2021, suggests children born during the pandemic also face lower IQs.
Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University conclude that these children display deficits in verbal, motor, and especially cognitive abilities compared to pre-pandemic peers.
Early childhood is critical for cognitive development, yet pandemic-era closures of schools, daycares, and playgrounds limited opportunities. Parents juggling work and childcare under stress provided fewer external interactions and home stimulations.
Among the 672 children studied, cognitive tests revealed particularly low scores. Over the past decade, toddlers averaged an IQ of 100; pandemic-born children averaged 78. As a preprint, these findings await peer review before serving as a definitive reference.
Lead author Sean Deoni, PhD, notes this 22-point drop is profound, akin to major cognitive impairments—yet participants showed no developmental disorders.
Diminished stimulation from stressed, fatigued parents appears the primary cause. Even if validated, long-term impacts remain uncertain and challenging to forecast.
