Parent Stress and Child Maladjustment During COVID-19

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Abstract

In the Spring of 2020, unprecedented school closures, business closures, and stay-at-home orders upended the daily lives of families. The disruptive and unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic produced novel stressors for families, many of which are predicted to have long-term impacts. Previous research has highlighted the need to analyze pandemic related stressors from a family systems approach, as stress experienced by one member of the family may influence other family members (Prime et al., 2020; Liu & Doan, 2020). “Spillover” occurs when stress experienced by one individual in a particular area of life affects how they behave in other domains, such as increased financial burden causing changes in parenting behaviors (Liu & Doan, 2020). “Crossover” occurs when one family member's stress amplifies the stress of others (Liu & Doan, 2020). For example, if a child becomes distressed about missing school, parental stress may increase. The present study examines unique stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the relationship between parental and child adjustment in the context of COVID-19.

Method
Participants were recruited through social media posts in Spring 2020 to complete an online survey. They were self-reported parents/caregivers of a school-aged child. Although 291 individuals began the survey, their response was only included if they answered at least 50% of the questions, which resulted in 151 participants. Of these, 90% of participants were female and 50% of the children that were reported on were female. The average age of the child was 10.73 years old. Participants self-reported their COVID-19 related concerns using the Pandemic Anxiety Scale (PAS) and reported their child’s COVID-19 related concerns using the PAS-C. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to report the adjustment of their child, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was used to self-report parent/caregiver adjustment.

Results
Table 1 displays the frequency of affirmative responses to the PAS. Most participants (88.4%) considered COVID-19 to be a very serious issue.
Hierarchical regressions were conducted to evaluate parental maladjustment as a predictor of child maladjustment in the overall sample and in subgroups that may be experiencing additional stressors during this time (see Table 2). In the overall sample, parental stress was a significant predictor of child maladjustment.
An additional set of hierarchical regressions were conducted to examine factors that attenuate child maladjustment. Factors that predicted lower child maladjustment included: maintaining a routine similar to the child’s Pre-COVID routine, stronger child social connections, and longer amounts of time that the child engaged in energetic physical activity.

Discussion
These findings expand our understanding of COVID-19 related stressors. During this unusual time, many parents are experiencing high levels of stress. This stress contributes to their child’s maladjustment. However, the findings provide strategies to attenuate child maladjustment such as creating a routine that resembles normalcy, finding outlets for child social support, and encouraging children to engage in energetic physical activity. As COVID-19 related stressors remain persistent and may worsen over time, these findings may be beneficial to help families reduce child maladjustment.

Authors

• Jennifer Traver, The College of William and Mary
  Presenting Author

• Sierra Walters, College of William & Mary
  Non-Presenting Author

• Danielle Horvath Dallaire, Other (The College of William & Mary)
  Non-Presenting Author