How do masks affect small children?
Opponents of mask wearing claim that masks could greatly affect young children. Recently, Florida governor, Ron DeSantis blocked school districts from requiring masks. According to DeSantis' executive order, "masking children may lead to negative health and societal ramifications". According to Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, masks mandates in schools are "nothing short of psychological child abuse". Some research claims young children who are required to wear masks may lack the ability to discern emotions and distinguish one face from another. Additionally, children may experience problems with language comprehension.
However, experts say that children have unique learning capabilities that will allow them to adapt to wearing masks. Additionally, research say that masks also make young children feel like they are part of a community, and will feel like they are playing a role in stopping the pandemic. In a December 2020 study, researchers found that "while there may be some challenges for children incurred by others wearing masks, in combination with textual cues, masks are unlikely to dramatically impair children's social interactions in their everyday lives." Experts do not believe there will be any long-term effects to children who wear masks. "I think once masks are gone or almost gone, whatever impact it has, we'll quickly recover," said Dr. Hugh Bases, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone Health.
How do masks affect adolescents and highschoolers?
High school students may have a harder time understanding their teachers, because masks may muffle their teacher’s words and cover their expressions. It can also hinder their participation in class. Developing adolescents, especially huge germaphobes, may grow anxious of the current situation and affect them mentally as a result. A lot of states are still very restrictive of sports and many indoor activities, such as dances. Thus, this is likely to adversely impact them psychologically.
Although the pandemic as a whole has led to a mental health crisis, there is no evidence that mask wearing alone causes anxiety or depression. According to Jeremy Kendrick, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, feeling different from their friends can lead to anxiety. In schools where masks are not required, there have been reports of students being teased for wearing a mask. "One of my concerns about an environment with one child doing something different than the other, is it could lead to some kids feeling anxious. One of the benefits of all kids wearing masks, is everyone is on a level playing field."
Will masks become a part of our culture indefinitely?
As for the mask mandate continuing indefinitely, Dr. David Nabarro of the World Health Organization says that the mask mandate should continue as different variants which may evade the vaccine come to rise. This was stated in an interview with Sky News. “We will go from Delta to Lambda and then on to the other Greek letters, that’s inevitable, and some of these variants will be troublesome,” he said. Many people also believe that the mask mandate should continue for the time being and maybe longer. In the event that face coverings are utilized long-term, the impact on people psychologically could be significant.
Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonary and critical care doctor, believes "Post pandemic, there will be new social norms. I think face masks will continue to be used by the general public in times when they don't feel well, and honestly we're realizing that no one feels slighted without a handshake."
As people wear face coverings as they get older, will they have characteristics that make them more reclusive, more isolated, and less active in their society?
People who will still practice wearing masks, even long after the pandemic, may act more isolated from society. We could end up with people showing some version of the disinhibition effect, and showing a lack of restraint and concern to people they are talking to. According to an article on ScientificAmerican.com, many people have become afraid to reenter their former lives even after becoming vaccinated. The term "cave syndrome" has been coined for this experience. "The pandemic-related changes created a lot of fear and anxiety because of the risk of illness and death, alone with the repercussions in many areas of life. Even though a person may be vaccinated, they still may find it difficult to let go of that fear because they're overestimating the risk and probability," says Jacqueline Gollan, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University. Alan Teo, an associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University, says cave syndrome can be attributed to three factors: habit, risk perception and social connections. "We had to learn the habit of wearing masks, physical distancing or social distancing, not inviting people over. It is very hard to break a habit once you form it."
Do face coverings alleviate concerns that people have?
Some people may welcome masks because it eases uncomfortable social interactions. According to Kathryn Stamoulis, an educational psychologist and mental-health counselor in New York, "For introverts, it can feel great that you don't have to talk to people you don't know that well, but in the long run, when you get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself...you might form a really fulfilling or positive relationship."
Seeing masks everywhere could make people less worried. When it comes to the coronavirus, many people feel they have very little control of the situation. However, wearing a mask allows people to feel that they can do their part to prevent contracting and spreading the virus. It suggests that things are under control, and that protection is present. Masks make some people feel safe.