Identifying Rewards Over Difficulties Buffers the Impact of Time in COVID-19 Lockdown for Parents in Australia

Abstract

ObjectivePhysical isolation measures, known as lockdown or shelter-in-place, experienced during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have the potential to cause psychological distress. This study was conducted to examine parents’ perceived stress and whether reports of rewards and challenges during lockdown impact stress.MethodsData were collected using a cross-sectional online survey in New South Wales, Australia, across the 4-week lockdown. The survey was completed by 158 parents of children aged under 6 years. Stress was measured using the short form of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). Rewards and challenges were reported in response to two open-ended questions.ResultsThere was a weak negative correlation between PSS-4 scores and days in isolation (r = −0.167, p = 0.022), with parents who had spent longer in isolation reporting fewer stress symptoms. The relationship between time in isolation and stress was moderated by the degree to which parents described more rewards than challenges: parents who perceived high rewards and low challenges reported lower PSS-4 scores with more days in lockdown, whereas parents who perceived low rewards and high challenges reported higher PSS-4 scores with more days in lockdown. The moderation model examining associations between time in isolation and rewards ratio explained 13% of the variance in PSS-4 scores.ConclusionLockdowns are not uniformly or consistently negative experiences for parents. Identifying positive aspects of the experience may serve to buffer negative mental health risks across time. Understanding resilience strategies is critical for supporting current psychological wellbeing and to adequately prepare for future pandemic experiences.

Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Pediatric Primary Care Practice in Europe

“…Тем не менее, мониторинг состояния психического здоровья детей в долгосрочной перспективе и изучение того, как длительное закрытие школ, строгие меры социальной изоляции, изменение образа жизни вследствие пандемии влияют на благополучие детей и подростков, были бы очень полезны [25]. Хотя из-за закрытия школ родители могли больше времени уделять своим детям, в большинстве случаев COVID-19, наоборот, способствовал развитию внешних стрессовых факторов и ухудшению социальных и семейных отношений [26]. В семьях, которые стали больше времени проводить вместе, COVID-19 мог усугубить ранее имевшиеся проблемы (депрессия, тревожность и др.…”

“…В семьях, которые стали больше времени проводить вместе, COVID-19 мог усугубить ранее имевшиеся проблемы (депрессия, тревожность и др. ), что приводило к дестабилизации отношений, жестокому обращению и даже насилию [26,27]. Европейские сообщества педиатров первичного звена консультировали органы здравоохранения ЕС по поводу этих рисков и подчеркнули важность скоординированного подхода педиатров и психиатрической службы для правильного регулирования всех подобных состояний, влияющих на благополучие детей во время пандемии [10].…”

Locus of control moderates the association of COVID-19 stress and general mental distress: Results of a cross-sectional survey in two large samples from Norway, Germany, and Austria

“…Until now, several factors were found to serve as resources buffering the effects of stressors, stressful experiences or risk factors on mental health or protective health promoting behaviour during the first year of the pandemic. Among these moderating factors are higher self-esteem [18], greater psychological flexibility and acceptance of difficult experience [19], higher meaning in life and self-control [12], less digital emotion contagion [20], higher age [21], male gender and lower COVID-19 stress [22], emotion regulation by cognitive reappraisal strategies [23], increased resilience [24], trust in the healthcare system [25], identifying positive over negative aspects of COVID-19 lockdown [26], as well as utilizing prenatal care services [27].…”

Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Pediatric Primary Care Practice in Europe

“…However, monitoring young people's mental health status over the long term, and studying how prolonged school closures, strict social distancing measures, and the changes in life-styles caused by the pandemic affect the wellbeing of children and adolescents would be greatly useful 24 . Although during school closure parents had the chance to dedicate more valuable time to their children, in many cases COVID-19 has contributed to increased external stressors and lowered the quality of social relationships and family cohesion 25 . In families that spend longer periods of time together, COVID-19 may exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities including depression and anxiety, which can harm the stability of relationships and increase the risks of abuse and violence 25 , 26 .…”

“…Although during school closure parents had the chance to dedicate more valuable time to their children, in many cases COVID-19 has contributed to increased external stressors and lowered the quality of social relationships and family cohesion 25 . In families that spend longer periods of time together, COVID-19 may exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities including depression and anxiety, which can harm the stability of relationships and increase the risks of abuse and violence 25 , 26 . The European societies of primary care pediatrics have advised the EU public health authorities about these risks and stressed the importance of a coordinated approach by pediatricians and mental health service providers to properly manage the whole range of conditions affecting the mental wellbeing of children caused by the pandemic 9 .…”