Parental identity as a resource for parental adaptation during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Abstract

The lockdown measures that were taken to contain the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 caused many parents to stay at home with their children. This unusual situation created both risks and opportunities for families. In the current study, we examined the role of parental identity as a resource for parental adaptation during this challenging period, thereby considering both parenthood experiences and parents' general mental health while also taking into account the cumulative risk to which parents were exposed (e.g., single parenthood). Further, to shed light on the mechanisms behind the effects of parental identity, this study addressed the mediating role of parental satisfaction of their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. During the lockdown period in Belgium, 492 parents (88% mothers, Mage = 44 years, 63.7% in intact family, 31.2% with a university degree) completed online questionnaires on parental identity, need-based experiences, positive and negative parenthood experiences, and mental health. Several weeks earlier, these participants also rated their mental health and a variety of risks they were exposed to as part of a larger study. Results showed that a clear and self-endorsed parental identity was related to better parental adaptation, with parental need satisfaction playing a mediating role in these associations. Moreover, these associations remained significant after controlling for prior levels of parental mental health and for cumulative risk. Overall, findings suggest that parental identity serves as a source of resilience in an uncertain period such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Parental identity status in emerging and early adulthood, personality, and well‐being: A cluster analytic approach

“…The present study was designed to better understand the foundation of individual differences in parental identity, and to enable further development of our knowledge about personality and well‐being correlates of identity development in the parental domain (Piotrowski, 2018 ). The scarce research into this issue conducted so far suggests that identity processes that take place in the parental domain have significant meaning for the adaptation to parenthood (Fadjukoff et al ., 2016 , Meca et al ., 2020 ; Piotrowski, 2021 , Schrooyen et al ., 2021 ), and they can explain different developmental trajectories and psychopathological symptoms experienced by parents (Meca et al ., 2020 ; Schrooyen et al ., 2021 ).…”

“…In turn, Schrooyen, Beyers and Soenens ( 2019 ) and Schrooyen et al . ( 2021 ), who also applied the processual approach in their studies on parental identity conducted on a Belgian sample, have observed that the difficulty in forming a clear vision of oneself as a parent is connected with negative parental experiences, mental health issues, and a greater risk of experiencing parental burnout (Mikolajczak et al ., 2019 ). In sum, studies based upon the processual models conducted thus far (Meca et al ., 2020 ; Piotrowski, 2018 , 2020 ; Schrooyen et al ., 2021 ) have univocally indicated that in the development of parental identity, we can observe difficulties that for parents can have serious consequences in the form of low quality of life and psychopathology risk.…”

“…( 2021 ), who also applied the processual approach in their studies on parental identity conducted on a Belgian sample, have observed that the difficulty in forming a clear vision of oneself as a parent is connected with negative parental experiences, mental health issues, and a greater risk of experiencing parental burnout (Mikolajczak et al ., 2019 ). In sum, studies based upon the processual models conducted thus far (Meca et al ., 2020 ; Piotrowski, 2018 , 2020 ; Schrooyen et al ., 2021 ) have univocally indicated that in the development of parental identity, we can observe difficulties that for parents can have serious consequences in the form of low quality of life and psychopathology risk. Thus, it can be predicted that by using the identity status approach and focusing on different configurations of identity processes (commitment, in‐depth exploration, reconsideration of commitment), it would be possible to observe both those parents who are characterized by healthy parental identity development (high commitment and/or low reconsideration of commitment) and those who experience significant difficulties in this process (high reconsideration of commitment).…”

A descriptive literature review of early research on COVID-19 and close relationships

“…For U.S. college student children returning to their parents’ homes due to the pandemic, negative relationship quality with their parents was characterized by experiencing low autonomy and feeling less like an adult (i.e., an aspect of identity; Hall & Zygmunt, 2021 ). Conversely, having a clear parental identity (i.e., a coherent commitment to one’s parenting role) as well as greater autonomy was related to the ability to adapt better as a parent to COVID-19, as well as having more positive parental experiences and fewer negative parental experiences ( Schrooyen et al, 2021 ).…”

“…For example, positive effects of pandemic lockdown were observed for romantic partners over time, even for those who reported being particularly impacted by the pandemic ( Holmberg et al, 2021 ). Belgian parents also reported more positive than negative family experiences ( Schrooyen et al, 2021 ). Further, using Wefulness Theory, Nuru and Bruess (2021) identified multiple ways that romantic partners in the U.S. managed well-being during the pandemic, including accepting life on life’s terms (e.g., enjoying the little things and making new rituals), and inviting challenges as opportunities for growth (e.g., recognizing the pandemic as a teacher and appreciating skills gained during the pandemic).…”