Caregiver’s substance use coping predicts mental health outcomes during peak of COVID-19 restrictions

• In Event: Poster Session 03
  In Poster Session: PS 03 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic quickly altered daily routines of families across the United States in early 2020. COVID-related stressors at the height of the nation-wide quarantine identified fears of infection and disruptions to work/learning and daily self-care routines may be particularly heightened for those caring for children (Cluver et al., 2020; Pew Research Center, 2020). Caregivers’ attempt to cope with current distress has implications for how to best model adaptive responses for their children during a crisis, as they are pressured to model active, rather than avoidant, coping responses (Maccoby, 1992). Adaptive coping strategies that bolster mental health outcomes including active coping (Aldwin, 2007), whereas maladaptive coping strategies are associated with poorer mental health outcomes, such as the use of substances or disengagement from the stressor (Baral & Bhagawati, 2019). The current study examined patterns of caregivers’ use of coping strategies during the first peak of the US COVID-19 pandemic to predict mental health symptomology one month later.

Methods: Data were collected through a national, online survey at two time points: 1,632 responses were received between April 7-14, 2020, approximately 3 weeks after the first US quarantines were enacted, and 30 days later, when 966 follow-up responses were received. Of those with data at both time points, 183 responses came from caregivers of children (60.1% female; mean caregiver age = 36.78). Participants responded to questions at both time points focused on their COVID-related experiences and current coping strategies, measured by the Brief COPE subscales of substance use and behavioral disengagement (Carver, 1997) and mental health symptomology, measured by the DASS-21 subscales of depression, anxiety and stress (Henry & Crawford, 2005). Linear regressions were used to predict caregiver depression, anxiety and stress symptomology at the 30-day follow-up from baseline substance use and behavioral disengagement coping strategy use.

Results: Patterns of caregivers’ coping strategies, specifically use of substances and behavioral disengagement during the height of quarantine restrictions was predictive of their mental health symptomology 30 days later, such that caregivers use of substances or behavioral disengagement to cope explained approximately 42.9% of the variance in depression symptomology, 35.5% of the variance in anxiety symptomology, and 37.4% of the variance in stress symptomology (See Table 2). Age and gender were used as controls for each regression; age was not a significant predictor in any of the models, however, significant gender differences were seen for depression and stress symptomology, such that female caregivers reported significantly higher symptomology than male caregivers.

Discussion: In line with previous findings, using substances to cope and disengaging from the stressor significantly predicted anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 crisis. Importantly, women reported higher depression and stress than their male counterparts such that average scores fell in the normal range for both groups. Post-hoc analysis of substance use rates among this group are presented. Given the crucial role parents play as sources of coping socialization to model adaptive stress management practices at home, these findings have implications for promoting adaptive the self-care resources for families as the global pandemic unfolds.

Authors

• Morica Hutchison, University of Connecticut
  Presenting Author

• Beth S Russell, University of Connecticut
  Non-Presenting Author

• Crystal L. Park, University of Connecticut
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael Fendrich, University of Connecticut
  Non-Presenting Author