A research team led by CAHMI director, Dr. Christina Bethell, with Arisa Yamaguchi from the Department of Social Medicine at Tokyo’s National Center for Child Health and Development, explored how children in Japan felt heard by their families and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this impacted their quality of life (QOL).

The survey, conducted among 5th and 8th graders in December 2020, revealed that 52.9% of children felt their voices were "always" or "often" heard. These children were nearly five times more likely to report a higher QOL. Those who felt heard by both their family and teachers experienced an even greater boost in QOL.

The finding that about half of the children felt heard aligns with previous research on Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and underscores the significant opportunity to improve population health by promoting PCEs and fostering strong, supportive relationships between children, their families, and their communities. The study reinforces the need to prioritize responsive caregiving to support both individual and community well-being.

Read the full study How listening to children impacts their quality of life: a cross-sectional study of school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.