Parenting & Children’s Psychological Adjustment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) has greatly impacted parents of school-age children. Parents reported an increase in parenting stress related to fears of contracting the virus, adjusting to new routines, and managing their children’s online learning, often while balancing other responsibilities (APA, 2020; Garbe et al., 2020). Increased demands placed on parents might lead to burnout and place parents at greater risk for engaging in problematic parenting behaviors (e.g., abuse and neglect). The current study explored the role of parenting behaviors at the time of COVID-19 on children’s fear/anxiety and behaviors related to COVID-19.
Method: In May 2020, we surveyed 595 parents (40.3% men, 69.2% White, 12.1% Black, 10.1% Latinx) across the United States who reported having at least one child aged 7-17 living in their household. The majority reported working full (69.4%) or part time (11.4%), were married (73.2%) and had some form of college degree (77.9%). Median household income was between $60,000-$69,000. Parents reported on their child’s level of fear and anxiety related to COVID-19 and use of virus-safety behaviors (FIVE; Ehrenreich-May, 2020), what recommended strategies they used to help their child cope with the virus (Gregus et al., 2020), and their reported level of involvement with children, use of positive parenting techniques, and inconsistent of discipline (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire; Frick, 1991).
Results: Parents’ use of inconsistent discipline was positively associated with their report of their child’s contamination/illness fears, social distancing fears, and overall impairment; additionally, inconsistent discipline was associated with a reduced likelihood to promote hygienic behaviors and encourage social connection with peers and family (p’s< .01). Parents who reported greater involvement and more positive parenting were significantly more likely to endorse using recommended strategies to help their child cope with the virus (p’s < .001). Parents who promoted hygienic behaviors and social connection reported their children were less likely to experience impairment related to the virus; in contrast, parents who reported promoting their child’s self-care strategies and who managed more closely their child’s exposure to information about the virus reported their child experienced greater virus-related fear and impairment. Correlations between parenting practices and children’s adjustment related to COVID-19 are presented in Table 1.
Discussion: The findings shed light on potential risk and protective parenting behaviors on children’s psychological adjustment during this pandemic, including the protective role of parents using positive parenting and appropriate parental involvement to enhance children’s adjustment to the pandemic. Practitioners should also coach parents who rely on inconsistent disciplinary techniques to use positive parenting practices and increase their positive involvement in their children’s lives.

Authors

• Samantha Gregus Slade, Wichita State University
  Presenting Author

• Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melissa Faith, Johns Hopkins Medicine
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elissa Rosebraugh, Wichita State University
  Non-Presenting Author