Resilient Parenting during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Despite the universality of the COVID-19 crisis, parents are likely experiencing individual differences in psychological and behavioral consequences of the pandemic that affect their own adjustment as well as children’s development. Parents are the gateway to the broader functioning of families and children during stress and uncertainty (Gavidia-Payne et al., 2015). Thus, it is critical to understand parents’ existing sources of resilience. Resilience is not just the absence of negative outcomes, but the capacity, at the level of an individual or a system, for positive adaptation under stressful conditions (Masten, 2018). The aim of the current study is to understand factors that relate to resilient parenting, as indicated by positive parenting and adaptive coping, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on an established theoretical model of resilience processes in relation to resilient parenting outcomes (Gavidia-Payne et al., 2015), we examined pre-pandemic predictors and concurrent correlates of resilient parenting in an ongoing prospective longitudinal study. Pre-pandemic predictors included parental well-being (i.e., parent mood and anxiety symptoms, current social support, parenting sense of competence) and child effortful control. Concurrent correlates included predictors included, parental well-being, parental self-compassion, child coping during the pandemic, and families’ ability to adhere to routines. We examined stressors and positive changes experienced by families, as well as a path model predicted resilient parenting outcomes from predictors and correlates.
Mother-child dyads participated in a laboratory visit when children were aged 3, 4, or 5 years as part of a larger longitudinal study (n = 95). Mothers filled out questionnaires on their well-being (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995; Parenting Sense of Competence scale; Gibaud-Wallston & Wandersman, 1978; Interpersonal Support Evaluation List; Cohen et al., 1985) and their child’s effortful control (Children’s Behavior Questionnaire; Rothbart et al., 2001). During COVID-19 (i.e., late Spring through the Summer of 2020) mothers who had previously come in for a laboratory visit at any of the three time points filled out questionnaires about pandemic-related stressors (Responses to Stress Questionnaire [RSQ]; Compas, 2020) and positive changes (Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory (Grasso et al., 2020), as well as their current coping (RSQ), parenting behaviors (Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale; Parent & Forehand, 2017), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale Short Form; Raes et al., 2011), and well-being (same measures as prior). Parents also filled out a questionnaire on their child’s coping in response to the pandemic (Responses to Stress Questionnaire; Compas, 2020).
Mothers reported an average of 7.11 out of 15 stressors and 10.52 out of 19 positive changes. A path model (Figure 1) fit in MPlus 7.3 using FIML estimation fit the data well. Concurrent self-compassion and parental well-being related to adaptive coping over and above other predictors, correlates, and covariates. Additionally, adherence to routines related to positive parenting behavior above and beyond other variables. Pre-pandemic maternal well-being indirectly predicted positive coping through pandemic well-being (95% CI[0.003, 0.014]) and self-compassion (95% CI[0.002, 0.009]). Findings indicate specific targets for interventions for assisting parents during the pandemic and add to theory surrounding resilient parenting.

Authors

• Lauren Jones, Miami University - Ohio
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth J Kiel, Miami University - Ohio
  Non-Presenting Author

• Aaron M. Luebbe, Miami University - Ohio
  Non-Presenting Author

• M. Cameron Hay, Miami University - Ohio
  Non-Presenting Author