Preexisting Parenting Stress and Challenges Parenting Young Children during a Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 07
  In Poster Session: PS 07 Topic - Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Abstract

Prior research has shown that higher levels of stress are associated with more difficulty coping with negative life events. Additionally, research has shown a positive relation between parenting stress and child behavior problems. However, it is not clear what impact the recent COVID-19 pandemic may have on this relation. This study explored the relation between disruptions, parenting difficulties, and changes in child behavior problems following the start of the pandemic due to COVID-19. We also asked whether parenting stress prior to the pandemic contributed to parenting difficulties as well as child behavior problems.

As part of a larger study, 38 parents (M = 33.32 years, SD = 4.82) of children (female = 22, male =17) between 2-4 years old (M = 2.51 years, SD = 0.54) completed a self-report measure on their parenting stress (Parent Stress Index) prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents completed the (COVID-19 Family Stress Screener; FSS) between mid-June and mid-July on items pertaining to parenting (8 items) and changes in their child’s behavior (7 items) since the start of the pandemic. Items, rated on a 5-point scale, were averaged to form scales with higher values indicating greater parenting difficulties and increased child behavior problems. Parents also reported the number of disruptions (14 items) their family has experienced due to the pandemic. Most parents reported disruptions due to limited child care (n = 26) and school closings (n = 29). Approximately 25% of parents also reported issues providing basic household necessities (n = 10), loss of income/job (n = 9), limited access to medical care (n = 9), or had a family member or friend become ill with COVID-19 (n = 9). On average, parents reported 3.64 (SD = 2.38) disruptions due to the pandemic with 25% of parents reporting 6-8 issues.

Contrary to expectations, neither child behavior problems nor parenting difficulties were associated with the number of disruptions in response to the pandemic (Table 1). Rather, increased child behavior problems were associated with increased parenting challenges. Additionally, greater parenting stress prior to the pandemic was associated with more child behavior problems after the start of the pandemic. Table 2 contains the results of multiple regression separately predicting child behavior problems and parenting difficulties during the pandemic. Child behavior problems were predicted by greater parenting stress after accounting for the number of pandemic-related disruptions. However, parenting difficulties were not predicted by parent stress. Rather, increased parenting difficulties during the pandemic were predicted by child behavior problems, but not the number of disruptions due to COVID-19 or parenting stress prior to the pandemic.

This study highlights the prevalence of family disruptions due to COVID-19 that extended beyond loss of child care and school closing. These findings also reflect the well-established link between child behavior problems and parenting difficulties. Despite being a predominantly middle-class sample, the pandemic has had a substantial impact on both parents and children.

Authors

• Morgan Daugherty, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
  Presenting Author

• Angela D Staples, Eastern Michigan University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jamie Lawler, Eastern Michigan University
  Non-Presenting Author