Psycho-emotional adjustment in parents of adolescents: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the impact of the COVID pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: adolescence is a time of change and it generally entails a greater family vulnerability thus; the aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for poor emotional adjustment to COVID among parents of adolescents. Design and methods: 94 parents of adolescents (11-18 years old, M = 13.90, SD = 1.85) participated at different times during the state of alert in Spain. 91.5% were mothers. Their ages ranged from 35 to 63 years (M = 46.54; SD = 5.09). The variables assessed were anxiety, depression and stress (DASS), moods (MOOD), somatization (SCL) and resilience (CD-RISC). Descriptive analyses, t-tests, ANOVAs, correlations, and hierarchical regressions were performed. All this by means of a cross-sectional and longitudinal study design. Results: at the beginning of the confinement parents showed low levels of emotional distress and moderate levels of positive emotionality and resilience. However, those with a prior psychological problem, who had lost their job, or had lost someone to the pandemic, showed worse emotional adjustment. Resilience was relevant in predicting anxiety-depressive symptoms, and a low level of happiness was relevant in predicting stress. Emotional symptoms improved over time, and resilience remained stable. Conclusions: the emotional impact of COVID over time is influenced by mood, mental health, and resilience. In addition, parents who had a previous health problem, had lost their job or a loved one, had a worse adjustment. Practical implications: it is important to carry out intervention programs that increase resilience, treating parents who require it, since their emotional adjustment has repercussions on the emotional adjustment of family system.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience

“…To prevent its spread, the Governments of many countries worldwide, including Italy, planned a series of containment measures (e.g., physical distancing, school closures, and work from home), which severely affected the habits of individuals’ everyday lives, especially families with pre-school- and school-aged children [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Indeed, in addition to the resulting limitations of freedom, and health and economic concerns, parents of children aged from early childhood to middle adolescence [ 4 , 5 , 6 ] had to face a dramatic increase in the management of daily family life, their children’s care, and associated stress levels [ 7 ]. Due to the home confinement, the closure of educational services, and the lack of children’s interactions with teachers and peers, parents found themselves alone in the promotion of new learning experiences for their children [ 3 ], and in the management of home-schooling and social activities for school-aged children [ 4 ].…”

“…Due to the home confinement, the closure of educational services, and the lack of children’s interactions with teachers and peers, parents found themselves alone in the promotion of new learning experiences for their children [ 3 ], and in the management of home-schooling and social activities for school-aged children [ 4 ]. Moreover, parents with early and middle adolescents (approximately from 11 to 16 years) [ 8 ] have had to face a substantial increase of conflicts with their children and, consequently, of their stress levels [ 6 , 9 ]. This could be due to the increment in the amount of time spent together during a stage of life in which, physiologically, adolescents tend to become more independent from parents, preferring to socialize with peers [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Life Interrupted: Family Routines Buffer Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…For example, changes at work, financial strain, and/or novel parenting responsibilities (e.g., homeschooling) during the COVID-19 pandemic may place additional demands on adult caregivers. Indeed, a longitudinal self-report study of parents of adolescents at the beginning of confinement in Spain demonstrated that those who had lost their job, had prior psychological problems, or lost someone to the pandemic showed worse emotional adjustment (Valero-Moreno et al, 2021). These increased demands threaten to overwhelm caregivers' internal resources (e.g., beliefs, cognitions) and may impede caregivers' abilities to engage in consistent parenting strategies (e.g., planning, monitoring, limit-setting).…”

Happy Home: Happiness at Home as a Lifelong Education Environment

“…For example, in a research, it was determined that the emotional impact of the pandemic negatively affected the mental health and psychological resilience of parents and children. In addition, it was emphasized that families who had health problems before or who lost their job or a relative in the pandemic are more affected (Valero-Moreno et al, 2021). In another study, it was stated that the pandemic process, which negatively affected the physical and psychological health of families, negatively affected happiness (Ohlbrecht & Jellen, 2021).…”