Stronger Together: An Examination of Familial Protective Factors During Covid-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Objective: The stress-producing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sanctions imposed for the protection of public health have affected all segments of society. In this process, many stress materials such as long-term partial closure, the beginning of the process of complete closure and recovery term let more discussion of the problems that occur with the continuous sharing of the same physical environment in the family, more observations about the processes of existing chronic diseases, and family role conflicts happened. In our study, it was aimed to examine the protective factors perceived by individuals in terms of family members and family integrity under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, by some variables. Methods: This study was conducted with Çukurova University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department students. “Sociodemographic Data Form”, The Inventory of Family Protective Factors (IFPF) were used to collect the data. The data were collected by sending the link of the data collection tools created via "Google Forms" to the students’ social media groups. Results: A total of 316 individuals, 79 (25%) men and 237 (75%) women, participated in the study. When the IFPF total score and sub-score averages were analyzed according to gender; it was determined that the mean total score of the scale was significantly higher for the women. In the subsistence level perception groups, a statistically significant difference was found between the total score and the Social Support sub-dimension mean scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, it was found that being female, having a better socioeconomic status and being healthier in terms of both chronic and acute mental health had better perceptions of protective factors within the family compared to others. As a result, Family Health Centers (FHC) that can offer solutions for possible problems that are regulating family relations in the face of many negative life events such as pandemics, also can provide "intervention to domestic crisis" and can serve for diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and counseling services, and health promotion and preventive services. It is thought that the effective functioning of such organizations may be protective.