Stress and Parenting during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background

Stress and compromised parenting often place children at risk of abuse and neglect. Child maltreatment has generally been viewed as a highly individualistic problem by focusing on stressors and parenting behaviors that impact individual families. However, because of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), families across the world are experiencing a new range of stressors that threaten their health, safety, and economic well-being.

Objective

This study examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to parental perceived stress and child abuse potential.

Participants and Setting

Participants included parents ( N = 183) with a child under the age of 18 years in the western United States.

Method

Tests of group differences and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among demographic characteristics, COVID-19 related stressors, mental health risk, protective factors, parental perceived stress, and child abuse potential.

Results

Greater COVID-19 related stressors and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher parental perceived stress and child abuse potential. Conversely, greater parental support and perceived control during the pandemic may have a protective effect against perceived stress and child abuse potential. Results also indicate racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 related stressors, but not in mental health risk, protective factors, perceived stress, or child abuse potential.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that although families experience elevated stressors from COVID-19, providing parental support and increasing perceived control may be promising intervention targets.