Dyadic associations between COVID‐19‐related stress and mental well‐being among parents and children in Hong Kong: An actor–partner interdependence model approach

Abstract

The spread of COVID‐19 and its subsequent social distancing policies have profoundly impacted the lives of parents and children. Prolonged exposure to parenting‐related responsibilities and heightened levels of family conflict under stay‐at‐home orders coupled with reduced access to support systems and resources have rendered parents and children more prone to stress and mental health difficulties. Drawing on a transactional model of parent–child interactions, the present study applied an actor–partner interdependence model approach to examine the transactional relationship between COVID‐19‐related stress and mental well‐being among parents and children. Data from 109 Chinese parent–child dyads in Hong Kong were included in the study. Parents and their 8‐ to 10‐year‐old children completed a questionnaire on COVID‐19‐related stress, parent–child relationships, and mental well‐being. The results showed that 53.2% and 30.3% of the parents and children, respectively, showed poor mental well‐being, indicating possible emotional problems. Both actor and partner effects of parent COVID‐19‐related stress were found. Parent COVID‐19‐related stress was indirectly related to lower levels of parent and child mental well‐being, through the mediation of parent–child conflict. To facilitate psychological adjustment following the COVID‐19 outbreak, effective family‐based mental health and parenting interventions are needed to promote family cohesion and alleviate stress‐induced psychological symptoms. Even in the time of social distancing, telepsychotherapy and other online non‐psychotherapeutic interventions can serve as a valid alternative for parents and children who experience excessive distress. Implications for psychological services, family‐friendly policies, and social protection measures are also discussed.

摘要

COVID‐19的传播及其随后的保持社交距离政策深刻影响了父母和子女的生活。长时间里都得承担家长有关的责任，在居家令下家庭冲突的加剧，再加上获得支持系统和资源的机会减少，这使得父母和子女更容易承受压力和出现精神健康问题。基于亲子互动的交互作用模型，本研究运用行动者与伙伴相互依存模型方法，研究了父母和子女所感受到与COVID‐19相关压力和精神健康之间的相互影响的关系。研究采用了109对在中国香港的父母和子女的数据。父母和他们8‐10岁的孩子完成了一份关于COVID‐19相关压力、亲子关系和精神健康的问卷。结果显示，53.2%的家长和30.3%的孩子的精神健康状况较差，可能存在情绪问题。研究发现父母所感受到与COVID‐19相关压力的行动者效应，也发现了伙伴效应。父母的COVID‐19相关压力通过亲子冲突的影响，与父母和子女精神健康水平的降低有间接相关。为促进COVID‐19疫情后的心理调整，需要采取有效的家庭精神健康和亲职教养的干预措施，以促进家庭凝聚力，缓解压力引发的心理症状。即使在保持社交距离的时候，远程心理治疗以及其他的在线非心理治疗干预，对于经历过度困扰的父母和子女来说，也可以作为一种有效的选择。本研究还对心理服务、家庭友好政策和社会保护措施的影响进行了讨论。