LEXINGTON, Ky. — Researchers at the University of Kentucky are participating in an international study to collect data on how the pandemic is impacting children. 

Meghan Marsac, an associate professor at UK, is inviting families with children between the ages of 1 and 5 to participate in the study.

“We know that many of the families that we see in our clinics have really struggled with a number of different things since the pandemic has started. And what we want to do is figure out the best ways to support our kids and support our families,” Marsac said. 

To participate in the study, Marsac asks parents or caregivers to take an online survey. Participants have a choice of completing one set of questions now or receiving multiple sets of questions over the next 12 months, allowing the researchers to observe changes over time. Those with questions about the study can reach researchers at path@uky.edu.

“What our younger kids know is that they know their childcare is different, they know that their friends might be different, the way they're acting with their families might be different, but they might not have a good sense about why that is,” Marsac said.

Using the research collected, Marsac and her colleagues are hoping to discover possible programming and support interventions that can help families and children’s needs.