In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a pandemic, leading to school closures and lockdowns in France. This study, known as CONFEADO, assessed psychological distress among children aged 9 to 18 during this period. Conducted from June to September 2020, it involved 3,148 participants, including those in child welfare services. Data were gathered through a web-based questionnaire and paper forms, examining distress levels using the Children and Adolescents Psychological Distress Scale-10 (CAPDS-10).

Results indicated that children who viewed religion positively during lockdown were more likely to experience moderate and severe distress. Relational coping was protective, as lower perceived support correlated with increased distress. Multivariate analysis revealed that severe distress was significantly linked to living in small housing, low parental support, feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork, and changes in appetite. Additionally, difficulties in behavioral and emotional coping and increased family conflict contributed to greater distress. The findings emphasize the importance of coping strategies in understanding youth psychological distress during crises and suggest that spiritual coping merits further exploration in clinical and research contexts.