Parenting and Child Development in Times of COVID-19

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has far reaching consequences on, amongst others, our health and care system, our economy and society. Moreover, extensive measures to prevent the virus from spreading impacts all facets of daily life including family life. As these circumstances are unique, we know little about to which extend and how COVID-19 impacts parenting and child development. The studies in this symposium explore how the current pandemic both positively and negatively affects families in two countries.

The first study assessed, among 240 Chinese parents and their elementary-school-aged children, how COVID-19 contributed to parents’ fear induction practices, and, in turn, contributed to children’s disease prevention practices during the outbreak and post-quarantine wellbeing.

The second study examined the (differential) effects of the lockdown on parent-adolescent relationships, specifically parental warmth, autonomy supportive, psychological and behavioral control, and parent-child conflict, among 179 Dutch adolescents and their primary caregivers.

The third study examined the effects of COVID-19 on wellbeing of parents (psychological symptoms and overactivity) and children (internalizing and externalizing behavior) before and during lockdown in 150 Dutch families and whether the changes in wellbeing were affected by perceived stress.

The three pioneering studies show that COVID-19 in general imposes stress on the family system, but that this stress does not impact all families in the same way. The results of these studies may give us important clues on risk, buffering -and even promotive- family, parent and child factors. The discussant will address possible implications for theory, practice and policy.

Sub Unit

• Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Chair

• Joyce Weeland, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Discussant

• Joyce Weeland, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Individual Presentations

• The Cost and Benefit of Fear Induction Parenting on Children’s Health during the COVID-19 Outbreak - Presenting Author: Huiguang Ren, University of Maryland - Baltimore County; Non-Presenting Author: Charissa S. L. Cheah, University of Maryland - Baltimore County; Non-Presenting Author: Junsheng Liu, East China Normal University

• Parenting Adolescents in time of a Pandemic: Changes in relationship quality, autonomy support and parental control - Presenting Author: Anne Bülow, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Loes Keijsers, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Eeske Van Roekel, Tilburg University; Non-Presenting Author: Jaap Denissen, Utrecht University

• Home lockdown: Bloom or Boom? Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on wellbeing of parents and children - Presenting Author: Michelle Achterberg, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Simone Dobbelaar, Leiden University; Non-Presenting Author: Olga D. Boer, Leiden University; Non-Presenting Author: Eveline A. Crone, Erasmus University