The research comes from the Institute of Fiscal Studies and notes that children aged between four and seven were significantly more likely (52%) to be affected than 12- to 15 year-olds (42%).

The research also found that children whose parents were furloughed, mandatorily made to take a leave of absence from their jobs, were "significantly more likely to experience a worsening in their socio-emotional skills than those whose parents had not been furloughed (51% versus 45%)".

Essentially, kids whose families experienced hardship due to the lockdown were significantly more likely to have serious developmental issues.

The questions in the study included asking whether children had become "easily scared", "constantly fidgeting or squirming", or "generally obedient".

Author of the study Andrew McKendrick, an IFS research economist commented that "During the Covid-19 pandemic, children from all backgrounds saw their social and emotional skills worsen considerably."