The Cascading Impact of COVID-19 on Parent Drinking

• In Event: Poster Session 08
  In Poster Session: PS 08 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Although social distancing is considered one of the primary non-pharmaceutical approaches to reducing the transmission of infectious disease, it can also lead to social isolation and increased stress. This may particularly be the case for parents who are now also responsible for home schooling due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on school attendance. Balancing new demands at home and negotiating homeschooling as a single parent or parenting dyad can increase stress, or for couples - increase conflict. Stress is often implicated in the onset and maintenance of alcohol problems, and parent alcohol problems have been demonstrated to have a cascading impact on families, such as displaying less effective parenting practices and children having higher rates of externalizing behavior problems. The present study investigated the associations between homeschooling due to COVID-19, parent partner conflict, stress, and drinking.

Parents (n = 44 men, n = 54 women; Mage = 38.22) from across the United States (n = 22 Northeast, n = 19 Midwest, n = 43 South, n = 14 West) were recruited as part of a larger Qualtrics study examining the impact of COVID-19 on health and behavior. On average parents reported having 2 children. Parents were asked to report on whether their children were currently being homeschooled due to COVID-19, the extent to which they were social distancing, their current stress (Perceived Stress Scale), their conflict with their partner (Conflict Tactics Scale), and the quantity and frequency of drinking alcoholic beverages in the 3 months before and also during COVID-19.

The model provided an adequate fit to the data (see Figure 1). Results indicated that homeschooling children during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased stress, partner conflict, and alcohol consumption for parents. Experiencing higher levels of conflict, or being the recipient of negative partner behavior, was also directly associated with higher levels of alcohol use during the pandemic. There was also an interaction between having a live-in partner and children in the home, such that there was a significant increase in drinking during the pandemic for parents who did not have a live-in partner(M = 2.79 more drinks per drinking episode).

Overall, results demonstrate the importance of the relationship context for parents across domains. Stress was associated with both homeschooling and partner conflict, and both partner conflict and homeschooling were associated with higher levels of drinking during the pandemic. However, the largest increase in drinking from the month before the pandemic to during the pandemic was for parents who did not have their partner living in the home with them and their children. Therefore, parents may have many potential risk factors for their emotional and behavioral health during the pandemic, but having a partner within the home may be protective. However, if that relationship is conflictual, the buffering effect appears to be diminished.

Authors

• Stephanie Godleski, Rochester Institute of Technology
  Presenting Author

• Joseph Baschnagel, Rochester Institute of Technology
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rebecca Houston, Rochester Institute of Technology
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kassidy Colton, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ryan Alicea, Rochester Institute of Technology
  Non-Presenting Author