Impact of social distancing on the mental health of parents and children in Qatar

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of COVID-19-related social distancing practices on parents and children’s mental health and explored the roles parental activities with children and coping strategies among families in Qatar. The sample of 308 parents completed self-reported questionnaires regarding parents’ mental health, coping strategies, and activities with children, social distancing practices, and both parents’ and children’s mental health. The results showed a significant positive correlation between social distancing and parents’ activities with children and their coping strategies, as well as between parents’ mental health and parents’ activities with children, children’s mental health, and parents’ coping strategies. The path analysis showed that social distancing practices influence both parents’ and children’s mental health through parents’ activities with children and their coping strategies. Our findings revealed how living under stressful conditions such as COVID-19 could enhance the mental health of family members.

Responsive caregiving, opportunities for early learning, and children’s safety and security during COVID-19: A rapid review

“…Thus pandemic-related strategies for parents and caregivers could focus on supportive parenting interventions and home or internet-based exercise interventions. Lastly, a few studies point towards mixed and potentially positive impacts of the COVID-19 restrictions on deepening family ties, improving couples’ relationships, and developing new family hobbies or activities [13,22,46,52–54]. However, such positive benefits were typically found among the parents and caregivers of older children or adolescents and among families with several protective factors, including financial stability, comfortable and safe homes, enough food to eat, good health, and healthy couple relationships [22, 46].…”

The Impact of Changes in Work Arrangements During COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle of Qatar's Working Population

“…17 Also, high levels of stress experienced by people during home confinement especially those who WFH, 18 might force them toward consuming more comfort foods which in most cases include fatty and sugary items. For example, with closure of schools, children were forced to stay home, 19 , 20 serving as a source of distraction for their working parents at home especially with the lack of support from day care centers or babysitters during working hours in view of the pandemic. Also, many parents had to deal with home schooling of their children and those who worked from home were more likely to deal with this than those who continued working regularly.…”

Prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety among University of Rwanda community during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

“…Staying home and social distancing as preventive measures have demonstrated significant impact and success in preventing the COVID-19 spread and contamination [16,17]. However, it is assumed that such a health crisis which has confinement as a preventive measure might be stressful and depressing thus resulting in unhealthy coping strategies which could negatively affect the physical and mental health outcomes associated with the pandemic [16,17]. At all ages, anxiety and fear about COVID-19 can be overwhelming and cause poor outcome for both mental and physical health.…”