Black Fathers’ Work Contexts During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Individual Well-Being and Family Processes

• In Event: Individual and Family Functioning in Vulnerable Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Black Americans remain disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Sneed et al., 2020). In addition to direct health impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a number of compounding effects on Black families, likely exacerbating existing inequities. For instance, Black Americans are overrepresented in essential and frontline occupations and are more likely to be employed in jobs that are higher stress, with less flexibility and lower control (Thompson, 2020). In our current pandemic reality, these work contexts and related stressors may not only increase exposure to COVID-19, but, also have implications for individual wellbeing and family dynamics. Studies have indicated that Black fathers may be particularly susceptible to work-related stress (Roehling, Jarvis, & Swope, 2005). With this in mind, the current investigation turns specific attention to Black fathers’ as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study examines relationships among Black fathers’ work and employment contexts, psychological wellbeing and family dynamics.

Participants were 446 Black fathers (M= 36.63; SD = 11.00) with children between the ages of 8 and 17 years of age (M= 12.36; SD= 2.85). Fathers represented all regions of the United States—1) Southeast (40%); 2) Northeast (23%); 3) Midwest (17%); and 4) West (21%). Approximately 47% of the sample were currently married and living together. Twenty-six percent of fathers had earned a high school education, 21% an associate/technical degree, 49% a college or advanced degree, and approximately 4% of fathers reported not receiving a high school degree or equivalent. Seventy-nine percent of fathers reported being currently employed. Fathers completed a brief online survey in the summer of 2020, a time period of continuous increase in COVID-19 cases across the United States.

Regression analyses, after controlling for demographic variables (e.g., partner status, education level; age, number of children) revealed that fathers’ work characteristics and pandemic concerns were associated with poorer psychological outcomes and greater family stress. Two key findings emerged: 1) changes in work income due to COVID-19 were associated with poorer psychological outcomes among fathers and 2) working in a high-risk context for contracting COVID-19 was associated with greater depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as greater reported family stress/conflict. Additionally, analyses indicated that family conflict about children’s schoolwork and household decision-making were related to greater depressive and anxiety symptoms among fathers. Fathers’ concerns about COVID-19 impacting their family (finances; children’s education) and about someone in the family catching COVID-19 were related to poorer psychological outcomes (depressive symptoms; stress).

Overall, findings suggest that fathers’ work contexts and experiences are indirectly and directly associated with family processes. Further, this study highlights the ways in in which existing disproportionalities (e.g., wage loss; working in high risk contexts; health risk) will likely be exacerbated during the ongoing pandemic, including increased mental health risk for Black fathers’ and adverse impacts on family processes. Implications for policy and programming with Black fathers and families will be discussed.

Authors

• Shauna M. Cooper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alvin Thomas, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Presenting Author

• Olajide Bamishigbin, California State University, Long Beach
  Non-Presenting Author