Parenting and child problem behaviours in times of COVID-19: evidence from two longitudinal studies in Italy

• In Event: Early Life Impacts of COVID-19: Prenatal and Early Childhood

Abstract

Background. Italy is one of the first in time hit countries by the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. From March 9th until May18th the lockdown was imposed to the population. The measures prescribed moving restrictions, closure of shops and restaurants, cancellation of all social events, and shutdown of schools across the country. With the closure of educational institutions, children of all ages lost the possibility to continue their academic path and to emotionally interact with their peers and with other educational figures. Many parents also had to work from home, increasing the risk of high levels of stress which likely impacted on the onset child behaviour problems or further exacerbated existing difficulties (Dellagiulia, et al. 2020; Spinelli, et al., 2020).
To shed light on the impact of COVID-19 on children’s wellbeing, it is critical to adopt a developmental approach that considers both individual and environmental variables, and to explore change longitudinally. In two longitudinal studies we investigated the role of protective and risk factors within the family environment in Italian preschool (Study 1) and school children (Study 2).
Methods. Study 1. At age 2 years (Time 1, before the COVID-19), mothers of 76 children provided information on children’s behavioral problems (CBCL). At age 4, during COVID-19 (Time 2; April 2020), parents reported again on children’s behavioral problems (CBCL) and on their levels of stress (Parenting Stress Index), anxiety and depression (DASS). Study 2. Mothers of 250 children aged 6-12 years completed during COVID-19 (Time 1; April 2020) several questionnaires assessing parenting stress (PSI), parent’s well-being (DASS), quality of family environment (CHAOS HOME) and children emotional (ECR) and behavior problems (SDQ). The same questionnaires were completed again after the lockdown (Time 2; June 2020).
Results. Study 1. Controlling for age at assessment, the lockdown was not associated with an increase in behavioral problems. However, important differences emerged when exploring the contribution of individual and environmental variables, so that children with more stressed and more depressed parents showed a significant increase in internalizing behavioral problems. Study 2. A complex picture emerged, with several protective and risk factors affecting the decrease of children emotional and behavioral problems from during to after the lockdown. Parents who were more able to recover from the difficulties of the lockdown, and who were more able to deal with the difficulties of organizing the family life, reported less emotional and behavioral problems and more ability to recover in their children.
Conclusions. Even though an increase in symptoms might not become immediately evident in the first months of a pandemic, parenting and family variables in interaction contribute to explain children’s responses to the pandemic, with a cascade effect of parenting on children wellbeing. As the impact of the pandemic will likely last for years, and new closures are currently discussed by governments worldwide, considering timely intervention programs that target both the child and the parent might reduce the risk of later maladjustment problems. As the described studies are ongoing, more data will be available at successive time points.

Authors

• Maria Spinelli, University G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara
  Presenting Author

• Francesca Lionetti, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara and Queen Mary University of London
  Non-Presenting Author

• Silvia Ponzetti, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara
  Non-Presenting Author

• Maria Concetta Garito, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mirco Fasolo, University G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara
  Non-Presenting Author