Qualitative Research on Hungarian Mothers’ Social Situation and Mental Health During the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Due to the social distancing measures ordered as protection against mass infection during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, most Hungarian families were confined to home quarantine. Schools, kindergartens, and nursery schools were closed between 16 March and early June. Because grandparents belonged to one of the most vulnerable groups, families were asked not to involve them in childcare until the end of the pandemic in order to avoid their infection by younger family members. Companies switched to using the home office when possible, and the government asked the population not to leave their homes except for essential reasons. As a result, many parents worked from home and provided care for their children at the same time.

Radical changes in the lives of international professional women with children: from airports to home offices

“…They explained that “individuals disclose their identity choices in demanding circumstances, they simultaneously search for justifications”. Women tended to care more and men attempted their breadwinning role when they could, as has also been observed in other empirical research (Fodor et al 2021; Geambasu et al , 2020). As one interviewee explained, “ I wanted to be a mother, I chose to be a mother” (Gloria), thereby giving a reason for prioritising her daughter in these difficult times after she returned from her highly-demanding job of being a medical doctor during the daytime and fighting for the lives of COVID-19 patients.…”

“…They also hoped that this demanding situation would not last long. The resulting re-traditionalisation of gender roles (Geambasu et al , 2020; Hennekam and Shymko, 2020) that occurred to different extents in these families was in sharp contrast with their pre-COVID-19 family arrangements.…”

“…This gender gap remained consistent for all social groups throughout the sample with an average of five more hours devoted by mothers to their children. Geambasu et al (2020) completed qualitative research on similar issues and concluded that re-traditionalisation of gender roles manifested in the number of hours of childcare and education and a focus on traditional parenting roles that happened immediately after the beginning of the lockdown with home schooling and massive home office work. In addition, mothers tended to support their children by providing high attention whilst the work of fathers was less affected by the exceptional situation.…”

Baráti kapcsolatok változása a Covid19-járvány alatt

“…Ezt a magyarázatot alátámasztják az interjús kutatás eredményei is, mely alapján a fiatalok kifejezetten arról számoltak be, hogy a lazább baráti kapcsolataik szűntek meg a pandémia idején, míg a szorosabb kapcsolataik megerősödtek. A Covid19-járvány társadalmi hatásai • Tanulmányok A nőkre a férfiakhoz képest szintén jellemzőbb volt, hogy valamely barátjukkal megszűnt a kapcsolatuk a pandémia idején, mely eredmény összefüggésben állhat a Covid19-járvány alatt megsokszorozódott gondozói feladatokkal (Fodor et al 2021, Geambașu et al 2020, s ezáltal a baráti kapcsolatok háttérbe szorulásával. Ezt a feltételezést erősíti a kérdőíves kutatás azon eredménye is, mely szerint kifejezetten a 30-39 éves és az 50-65 éves korosztály esetében mutatkoznak szignifikáns különbségek a két nem között.…”