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Understanding Familial Protective Factors During the Pandemic: The Potential Role of Culture in Family Resiliency

Thu, March 23, 11:45am to 1:15pm, Salt Palace Convention Center, Floor: 1, Grand Ballroom B

Abstract

Families across the world have been impacted by the COVID-19 world health crisis (Leach et al., 2021) with protective factors proven to mitigate the negative effects of adversity (Hays-Grudo et al., 2020). Although a variety of protective factors are described in the extant literature, culture remains a factor related to resiliency. Specifically, past research has identified key protective factors that promote various health outcomes in individuals identifying as American Indian including familial, non-familial, and cultural connectedness (Henson et al, 2007). Due to the importance of family outcomes, the current study focused on understanding what might serve as positive factors during prolonged stress (i.e., the pandemic). Further, due to the diverse population of the current qualitative study, potential culturally specific positive factors were explored.
Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 79 women at high risk of prenatal or postnatal substance use who were identified through medical clinics, other research study involvement, or SUD treatment programs. Recruitment took place across five sites in the United States located in California (N=14), Georgia (N=11), New Mexico (N=11), Ohio (N=3), and Oklahoma (N=40). Participants identified as White (62%), followed by American Indian (20%), Hispanic/Latino (11%), Black (8%), Multiracial (6%), Asian (3%), and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (1%). Individual interviews were conducted by trained qualitative interviewers over the phone, were transcribed and cross-checked for accuracy, and analyzed using NVivo 12 software.
Results: Families indicated increased time (78% of caregivers) as a positive change during the pandemic. Specifically, caregivers reported they were able to slow down and have a more simplified life with a decrease in everyday stressors during the pandemic. One could deduce that this increase in time partially contributed to caregivers reporting an increase in introspection/awareness. This was explained as caregivers prioritizing what is important in their life. Caregivers also reported the focus of their time changed in a positive way. Time was used to gain new family skills/hobbies related to cooking, creative activities, and the outdoors (i.e., family walks, going to parks, etc.). Related to increased time together, families also reported that the pandemic strengthened their family through increased closeness and communication, healthier partner relationships, and increased support from family/friends. It is important to note that themes were consistent across cultures but families that identified as American Indian discussed a positive during the pandemic was tribal resources.

Discussion: Findings suggest that increased quality time created numerous positive changes within the family system. These included families simplifying their life, increasing introspection and strengthening family relationships. The positive familial experience of increased time was described across cultures, including American Indians who made up 20% of the current sample. These results imply that the positive aspects of increased quality time transcend culture to support all families in achieving healthy, nurturing relationships. The current qualitative data indicates that shelter in protocols provided families time to connect with each other. Further, broader research indicates that family and cultural connection builds resiliency (Henson et al, 2007) with increased time during the pandemic leading to stronger connections when other resilience-building avenues may not have been as accessible.

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