Participating countries 

Nine countries and >40 investigators are currently participating in this collaboration. Countries include Australia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. Over 6000 families have participated in this research.

Aims and method

The COVID-19 Unmasked: Young Child research project was launched in Australia on 12 May 2020 to help understand and track the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of young children (1-5 years) and their caregivers. This information will be used to promote positive wellbeing and resilience and help prevent the development and exacerbation of mental health problems in this age group over the next 12 months. The online survey is completed on 4 occasions (baseline and 3, 6, 12-months) to:

• Identify the challenging and positive experiences children and families have faced during this time
• Understand how toddlers and young children are coping, and what impacts the pandemic is having on their emotional and behavioural wellbeing
• Identify key risk and protective factors that have influenced child and parent adjustment during this time

The protocol of the study can be found here: COVID-19 Unmasked Global Collaboration Protocol: longitudinal cohort study examining mental health of young children and caregivers during the pandemic - PMC (nih.gov)

Studentswill need to combine, clean and analyse global data on child and/or parent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be opportunieties to act as (co)autor in publications about the global data.

• English: Expected will be communication with the participating international teams. 
• Statistics: Very good knowledge in multivariate longitudional data analysis is necessary.