Child, parent, and family mental health and functioning in Australia during COVID-19: comparison to pre-pandemic data

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to population mental health. Despite evidence of detrimental effects for adults, there has been limited examination of the impact of COVID-19 on parents and children specifically. We aim to examine patterns of parent and child (0–18 years) mental health, parent substance use, couple conflict, parenting practices, and family functioning during COVID-19, compared to pre-pandemic data, and to identify families most at risk of poor outcomes according to pre-existing demographic and individual factors, and COVID-19 stressors. Participants were Australian mothers (81%) and fathers aged 18 years and over who were parents of a child 0–18 years (N = 2365). Parents completed an online self-report survey during ‘stage three’ COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. Data were compared to pre-pandemic data from four Australian population-based cohorts. Compared to pre-pandemic estimates, during the pandemic period parents reported higher rates of parent depression, anxiety, and stress (Cohen’s d = 0.26–0.81, all p < 0.001), higher parenting irritability (d = 0.17–0.46, all p < 0.001), lower family positive expressiveness (d = − 0.18, p < 0.001), and higher alcohol consumption (22% vs 12% drinking four or more days per week, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, we consistently found that younger parent age, increased financial deprivation, pre-existing parent and child physical and mental health conditions, COVID-19 psychological and environmental stressors, and housing dissatisfaction were associated with worse parent and child functioning and more strained family relationships. Our data suggest wide-ranging, detrimental family impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and support policy actions to assist families with financial supports, leave entitlements, and social housing..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:32

Enthalten in:

European child & adolescent psychiatry - 32(2021), 2 vom: 21. Aug., Seite 317-330

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Westrupp, E. M. [VerfasserIn]
Bennett, C. [VerfasserIn]
Berkowitz, T. [VerfasserIn]
Youssef, G. J. [VerfasserIn]
Toumbourou, J. W. [VerfasserIn]
Tucker, R. [VerfasserIn]
Andrews, F. J. [VerfasserIn]
Evans, S. [VerfasserIn]
Teague, S. J. [VerfasserIn]
Karantzas, G. C. [VerfasserIn]
Melvin, G. M. [VerfasserIn]
Olsson, C. [VerfasserIn]
Macdonald, J. A. [VerfasserIn]
Greenwood, C. J. [VerfasserIn]
Mikocka-Walus, A. [VerfasserIn]
Hutchinson, D. [VerfasserIn]
Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M. [VerfasserIn]
Stokes, M. A. [VerfasserIn]
Olive, L. [VerfasserIn]
Wood, A. G. [VerfasserIn]
McGillivray, J. A. [VerfasserIn]
Sciberras, E. [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext [lizenzpflichtig]

BKL:

77.00$jPsychologie: Allgemeines

44.91$jPsychiatrie$jPsychopathologie

44.67$jKinderheilkunde

Themen:

COVID-19 pandemic
Child mental health
Couple conflict
Family functioning
Mental health
Parenting

RVK:

RVK Klassifikation

Anmerkungen:

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021

doi:

10.1007/s00787-021-01861-z

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

OLC2134184744

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