The mental health and well-being of children is top of mind as pandemic-related disruptions continue to impact children’s relationships and connections, engagement in activities and screen time, as well as their mental and physical health. These impacts are being experienced across children’s home, school and community environments. While the pandemic has impacted all children, not all children have been impacted equally. We have much more to learn about how the pandemic – and other societal influences – are shaping children’s health and well-being in middle childhood.

The Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) data represent one of the most comprehensive population-based datasets about children in the middle years and early adolescence over time in Canada, providing information from the perspectives of children on their social and emotional competence, mental and physical health, and well-being, as well the assets in their lives, including connectedness to adults and peers, nutrition and sleep, and use of time after school. MDI data, gathered from BC students in grades 4-8 across over the past 10 years, supports strengths-based research into the differences that make a difference in the middle years.

Join Dr. Eva Oberle, lead for the MDI, with Dr. Kimberly Thomson and Randip Gill, as they share highlights from the latest MDI data and shed light on children’s well-being over time and, in particular, changes that have occurred during the current pandemic.