Caregiver Mental Health and Family Stress During COVID-19: Impact on Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Physical distancing restrictions from COVID-19 forced youth and their caregivers to quarantine at home. During this time caregivers adopted multiple roles within the household while trying to balance work-related responsibilities. Shortly after the implementation of these restrictions, an elevated risk of domestic violence, family stress, and caregiver mental health was documented in families of typically and atypically developing youth. Elevations in caregiver stress and mental health have been found to impact not only the parent-child relationship, but also child mental health during COVID-19. Understanding associations between caregivers’ mental health/family stress during COVID-19 and youth mental health, and potential mediators (e.g., attachment, affect regulation, resilient coping) is essential for effective intervention and prevention efforts for families during these uncertain times. This symposium will describe the stress, mental health, and resilient coping of caregivers of typically and atypically developing youth during COVID-19. Presenters will also describe how family stress during COVID-19 impacts youth mental health, and potential mediators of this association. The first study describes findings from a Canadian study in which caregivers of youth with autism reported on their mental health, family disruptions and difficulties. The second study uses a community-based adolescent self-report and investigates the impact of family stress due to COVID-19 and maltreatment on mental health in typically developing youth, and the mediating role of affect regulation. The third study uses a community-based adolescent self-report and examines how parent-child attachment might mitigate the impact of family stress due to COVID-19 on youth mental health. Clinical implications will be discussed.

Sub Unit

• Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Chair

• Carly A McMorris, University of Calgary (U of C)

Discussant

• Debra Pepler, York University

Individual Presentations

• Experiences of Caregivers of Children with Autism During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mental Health and Resilient Coping - Presenting Author: Carly A McMorris, University of Calgary (U of C); Non-Presenting Author: Kelsey Friesen, University of Calgary (U of C); Non-Presenting Author: Stephanie J Howe, University of Calgary (U of C); Non-Presenting Author: Connor M Kerns, University of British Columbia; Non-Presenting Author: Jonathan A Weiss, York University

• Family Stress and Maltreatment During COVID-19 and Adolescent Psychopathology: The Role of Affect Dysregulation - Presenting Author: Stephanie G. Craig, York University; Non-Presenting Author: Megan E Ames, University of Victoria; Non-Presenting Author: Bianca C. Bondi, York University; Non-Presenting Author: Debra Pepler, York University

• Maternal and Adolescent Mental Health and Family Stress During COVID-19: The Role of Attachment - Presenting Author: Bianca C. Bondi, York University; Non-Presenting Author: Megan E Ames, University of Victoria; Non-Presenting Author: Debra Pepler, York University; Non-Presenting Author: Stephanie G. Craig, York University