Pregnant and Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: The Intergenerational Transmission of Stress During COVID-19: Highlighting Parent Mental Health and Sociodemographic Factors

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy and parenting are intertwined major life transitions that are made more difficult by the COVID19 pandemic. Countermeasures designed to reduce viral spread such as physical distancing and work/learn from home, have negative psychological effects on pregnant women (Lebel et al., 2020). Psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with greater parenting stress (Huisink et al. 2017), which increases the risk for subsequent behavior problems in children (Barroso et al., 2018).
The current study focusses on psychological distress among pregnant women who are also parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. School and daycare closures have left many families scrambling to provide childcare, while at the same time making employment adjustments, such as working from home. Our overall goal is to identify factors associated with increased symptoms of psychological distress among female parents.

Methods: 6078 pregnant Canadian individuals were recruited between April 5 and July 13, 2020 via social media ads. Of these, 2635 reported they are currently parenting a child. Overall, the sample had relatively few sociodemographic risk factors (e.g., education, income, marital status). Participants answered questions about interruptions to school and daycare and completed self-report measures of anxiety (PROMIS Anxiety), depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), pregnancy-related anxiety, and anger (PROMIS Anger).

Results: Of the participants with children, 43% (n=1150) had children in school and school was cancelled for 70% of these children. Among parents with school children at home, most (82%) organized or supervised schoolwork at home, and 57% were also working from home.
School cancellation was associated with higher pregnancy-related anxiety and depression symptoms in mothers (all p<0.05). The combined burden of working from home and supervising schoolwork was not associated with increased anger, anxiety or depression compared to participants who worked from home but did not supervise schoolwork (all p>0.05). Duration (in weeks since school cancellation) was not associated with psychological measures (all p>0.05).
Of the participants with children normally in childcare, 77% reported disrupted childcare. Anxiety and depression were higher in individuals with disrupted childcare (all p < 0.05). 88% of pregnant individuals provided childcare; in 68% of families, partners and/or other individuals were also providing childcare. Anger, depression, and anxiety (but not pregnancy related anxiety) were elevated in individuals who were the sole childcare providers (all p < 0.001). Among participants with disrupted childcare, 67% were also working from home; however, it was women working outside the home that had higher symptoms of all psychological measures (all p < 0.05).

Interpretations: Disruptions to school and childcare are associated with increased psychological distress among pregnant parents. Pregnant individuals working away from home with cancelled childcare appear to have the highest symptoms. The findings underscore the importance of reliable childcare not only to facilitate economic productivity, but also for the mental health of pregnant individuals. Increased psychological distress among pregnant and parenting individuals is a risk factor for postpartum depression, parenting stress and lower-quality parent-child relationship. These factors may contribute to increased behavioral problems in the current generation of children and the next generation who are currently in gestation.
 

Authors

• Gerald Giesbrecht, University of Calgary (U of C)
  Presenting Author

• Lianne M Tomfohr-Madsen, The University of Calgary
  Non-Presenting Author

• Catherine Lebel, University of Calgary, AB
  Non-Presenting Author