Covid-19 pandemic stressors related to Latina mothers’ mental distress, child problem behavior, and coping strategies

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Social Policy

Abstract

COVID-19 will widen disparities for children of color due to their communities’ greater vulnerability to COVID-19 infections, deaths, and related hardships, experienced within the systems of disadvantage already harming these communities (Yip, 2020). Needs for behavioral health support for these families require a greater understanding of the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on household conditions, parents’ mental health, young children’s behavior, and sources of support and coping that may help mitigate negative impacts of the pandemic.
We report results of an online COVID-19 Impacts Survey distributed in July, 2020, to parents who participated in the past three years in a community-based playful-learning program for children at risk ages 0-3 and their parents. Respondents included 155 mothers of whom 94.35% reported Hispanic/Latino ancestry. Household size averaged 4.58 people (SD = 1.45; range 2-9). Most children (35%) were between 3-5 years old. Essential workers were in 41.5% households, and 69% reported annual incomes < $40,000 (51% < $30,000). A few (10.48%) reported positive COVID-19 diagnoses; and some reported difficulties getting tested. More (30%) reported job loss.
A summed composite of stressors experienced due to the pandemic was formed from 20 items, including, the ability to pay for basic needs, difficulty balancing responsibilities, changes in childcare arrangements, children’s remote learning, decline in the quality of family relationships, and reduced income. The number of challenges and stressors ranged from 0 to 14 (M=6.69, SD=3.44).
Most mothers (55.8%) reported finding new ways of connecting with family/friends since the pandemic; although, 37% reported that they had not received financial or practical support from family/friends when needed. Coping strategies reported included, spending time outside, feeling a greater appreciation for family, being able to relax when feeling stressed, and relying on faith as a source of support. The most commonly endorsed coping strategies were feeling a deeper appreciation for life (87.9%) and being more grateful for each day (89.8%). Changes in mental health documented anxiety about losing a job and about not having health insurance, worries about a household member contracting COVID-19, feelings of isolation, and general feelings of sadness and anxiety.
We asked that they report on behavior of their youngest child over the age of 1. Child behavioral responses included 9 items from the Brief Problems Inventory, such as feeling lonely or fearful, acting too young for their age, acting impulsively, and destroying things. The most commonly reported was their child acting stubborn, sullen, irritable or hot-tempered, with 58.5% of mothers reporting that this has increased since the pandemic.
Meaningful relations were found among pandemic-related stressors, respondents’ own mental health, child behavior problems, and coping strategies. Parents’ mental health distress and child behavior problems were significantly correlated with more stressors (Table 1). Additionally, mothers’ social connections and coping were related to less mental distress. Less mental distress among mothers was related to fewer child behavior problems. These links between COVID-19-related stressors and concerning changes in the young children’s behavior will inform the outreach efforts offered by our program and others during these difficult times.

Authors

• Margaret Tresch Owen, University of Texas at Dallas
  Presenting Author

• Ana-Maria Mata-Otero, The University of Texas at Dallas
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jackie A Nelson, University of Texas at Dallas
  Non-Presenting Author

• Adriana Villa Baird, University of Texas at Dallas
  Non-Presenting Author

• Maria A Maese, Center for Children and Families
  Non-Presenting Author

• Shayla C Holub, University of Texas at Dallas
  Non-Presenting Author