Child, parent, and family mental health and functioning in Australia during COVID-19: Comparison to pre-pandemic data

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to the mental health and wellbeing of families. This study aimed to examine: (1) patterns of parent and child (0–18 years) mental health, parent substance use, couple conflict, parenting practices, and family functioning during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic data; and (2) associations between parent, child, and family outcomes during the pandemic and both pre-existing risk factors and COVID-19 stressors. Participants were Australian mothers (81%) and fathers aged 18 years and over who were parents of a child 0–18 years (N=2,365). Parents completed an online self-report survey assessing mental health, substance use, couple conflict, parenting, and family functioning during ‘stage three’ COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. Data were compared to pre-pandemic data from four Australian population-based cohorts. Compared to pre-pandemic estimates, during the pandemic period parents reported higher rates of parent mental health symptoms (Cohen’s d=0.26-.81, all p<.001), higher parenting irritability (d=0.17-.46, all p<.001), lower family positive expressiveness (d=-0.18, p<.001), and higher alcohol consumption (22% vs 12% drinking four or more days per week, p<.001). In multivariable analyses, pre-existing financial deprivation and COVID-19 stressors were associated with greater severity in parent and child mental health symptoms, parent emotion dysregulation, parenting irritability, couple conflict and family positive/negative expressiveness. Parents and children with pre-existing mental health conditions had elevated difficulties during the pandemic across most domains. Our data suggest wide-ranging, detrimental family impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and support policy actions to assist families with financial supports, leave entitlements, and social housing.

Relations between Child and Parent Fears and Changes in Family Functioning Related to COVID-19

“…Another preprint study on families showed greater parental anxiety symptoms during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic data [12]. In this last study, pre-existing financial deprivation, parental chronic physical or mental health condition, and COVID-19 stressors (e.g., job loss, employment changes, illness, food shortages, housing or financial insecurity) were associated with greater parental anxiety symptoms [12]. Another study reported increased physical and mental health problems in parents and children between March and June 2020 [14].…”

“…Family studies have also found greater anxiety symptoms [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] worries and fears [15,19,26], acute stress and posttraumatic stress disorders [27], as well as sleep disturbances [19] in children, related to the outbreak and lockdown. Pre-existing financial deprivation [12,25], parental chronic physical or mental health condition [12], COVID-19 stressors (e.g., job loss, employment changes, illness, food shortages, housing or financial insecurity) [12] and having relatives infected with COVID-19 [25] were associated with higher child anxiety symptoms. Additionally, being a girl [17,23,24] has been associated with higher anxiety levels during the COVID-19 outbreak [15,20].…”

“…The two factors that contributed the most to anxiety were poor sleep quality and spending more time reading the news or talking about COVID-19 with family and friends [13]. Another preprint study on families showed greater parental anxiety symptoms during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic data [12]. In this last study, pre-existing financial deprivation, parental chronic physical or mental health condition, and COVID-19 stressors (e.g., job loss, employment changes, illness, food shortages, housing or financial insecurity) were associated with greater parental anxiety symptoms [12].…”

“…Although parents seem to be at greater risk to develop anxiety and depression during the pandemic [2,7,11], few studies have focused on this population [12]. One preprint study has looked at potential predictors of anxiety and distress associated with quarantine in parents specifically [13].…”

Determinants of Behavioral Changes Since COVID-19 among Middle School Students

“…Among Swiss young adults, low parental monitoring was associated with lower COVID-19 protective behavior compliance [ 21 ]. However, family factors such as conflict and emotion expression were related with COVID-19 stressors [ 28 ]. Thus, it is of interest to determine how COVID-19 stressors affect such family factors, which thereby may influence protective behaviors against COVID-19 with the intention to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and associated stressors.…”