Poster #42 - Dealing With COVID-19 Together: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Covid-Related Disruption on Coparental Relationships

• In Event: Poster Session 03

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges and stressors for families, especially for parents. A growing body of research suggests that during the pandemic, parents tended to report higher stress than non-parents (Park et al., 2020; Russell et al., 2020), and 44.3% of parents living with children under age 18 reported worse mental health (Gadermann et al., 2021). Drawing on the spillover hypothesis of the family systems theory, these disruptions have the potential to negatively impact the coparental relationship and family functioning (Peltz, Crasta, Daks, & Rogge, 2021). This is critical as the coparental relationship is fundamental to the family system (Feinberg, 2003; McHale, 2007), is proximally linked to parent and child development outcomes (Feinberg et al., 2007; Repetti, Taylor, & Seeman, 2002), and is robustly associated with child emotional behaviour problems (Feinberg, 2003). Thus, a synthesis of this literature is essential for understanding the magnitude of the impact of this disruption on families to protect the impact on children. The aims of this meta-analysis are therefore to (a) provide insight into the association between covid-related disruption and coparental relationship functioning and (b) increase our understanding of how this association may differ between couples and families by examining moderators of the association (e.g., parent gender; number of children; socioeconomic status).
Hypotheses: Based on previous work (McRae, Overall, Henderson, Low, & Chang, 2021; Peltz et al., 2021), it is hypothesized that increased covid-related disruption is related to higher coparental relationship dysfunction.
Methods: Using an inclusive strategy, databases from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ERIC, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global were searched, with language (e.g., English) and publication date (e.g., between 2020-2022) restrictions. The initial search identified 13,910 nonduplicate, potentially relevant citations, which were reviewed during title and abstract screening. Primary quantitative or mixed-method studies that contained a measure of COVID-19 related disruption (e.g., psychological distress, anxiety, COVID-19 stress related questions) and coparental relationship functioning (e.g., interparental relationship, child-related conflict, coparenting support or undermining), were included. Full-text screening is underway for 366 citations to assess eligibility. Using citations from a larger systematic review examining covid-related disruption, marital, and coparental relationship functioning, data extraction will focus on various factors including population and study characteristics, moderators, and effect sizes and is intended to be complete by November 2022. Potential moderators include: parent gender (% mothers), child age (in months), child sex (% males), sample income level (high proportion [≥ 80%] of low income vs. low-to-moderate proportion [<0-79%]), racial/ethnic minority (% minority), method of assessing coparental relationship functioning (e.g., questionnaire, structured interview), total study quality score, study design (cross-sectional vs. longitudinal), publication status (published vs. unpublished), and country and region where the study took place. Data analysis will be conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA, Version 3.0; Borenstein et al., 2013). Enhancing our understanding of the impact of covid-related disruption on coparental relationships is necessary for developing resources and interventions for parents and families to help them thrive in the face of adversity and improve child outcomes.

Authors

• Jazzmin Demy, York University
  Presenting Author

• Alexandra Markwell, York University

• Maya Koven, York University

• Heather P Prime, York University

• Nicole Racine, University of Ottawa