scholarly journals Effects of Covid‐19 lockdown on parental functioning in vulnerable families

Author(s):  
Maren Sand Helland ◽  
Torkild Hovde Lyngstad ◽  
Tonje Holt ◽  
Linda Larsen ◽  
Espen Røysamb
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maren Sand Helland ◽  
Torkild Hovde Lyngstad ◽  
Tonje Holt ◽  
Linda Larsen ◽  
Espen Røysamb

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major changes to family life followed by a call for knowledge about how these changes have affected parental functioning, particularly in vulnerable families (Prime, Wade & Brooks, 2020). This study uses a natural experiment design to investigate the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown on parental mental health, parenting stress and three dimensions of destructive interparental conflict in a heterogeneous sample characterized by pre-existing relationship problems. Results from mixed model regression analyses showed that despite significantly higher levels of parenting stress in the lockdown group (n = 744 families) compared with the control group (n = 427 families), lockdown did not adversely affect parental mental health or levels of destructive conflicts behaviors. In fact, levels of verbal aggression and child involvement in conflict decreased during lockdown among parents living apart. Pre-existing destructive conflict levels, financial problems and age of youngest child did not moderate any of the associations. Thus, findings indicated that pre-existing family vulnerability did not predispose for reduced parental functioning during lockdown, beyond increased parenting stress. Resilient processes and an increased sense of purpose may be potential mechanisms. Caution should be taken when generalizing the findings due to the welfare context of the sample and as long-term lockdown effects were not investigated. Importantly, children in vulnerable families may have been negatively impacted by increased family time, despite relatively stable parental functioning during lockdown.


Author(s):  
Noemí Pereda ◽  
Diego A. Díaz-Faes

Abstract The situation of crisis produced by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses major challenges to societies all over the world. While efforts to contain the virus are vital to protect global health, these same efforts are exposing children and adolescents to an increased risk of family violence. Various criminological theories explain the causes of this new danger. The social isolation required by the measures taken in the different countries, the impact on jobs, the economic instability, high levels of tension and fear of the virus, and new forms of relationships have all increased levels of stress in the most vulnerable families and, therefore, the risk of violence. In addition, mandatory lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the disease have trapped children in their homes, isolating them from the people and the resources that could help them. In general, the restrictive measures imposed in many countries have not been accompanied by an analysis of the access to the resources needed to reduce this risk. It is necessary to take urgent measures to intervene in these high-risk contexts so that children and adolescents can develop and prosper in a society which is likely to undergo profound changes, but in which the defense of their rights and protection must remain a major priority.


2018 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 226-230
Author(s):  
Terrinieka W. Powell ◽  
Megan Wallace ◽  
Carla Zelaya ◽  
Melissa A. Davey-Rothwell ◽  
Amy R. Knowlton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marni D. Brownell ◽  
Mariette Chartier ◽  
Robert Santos ◽  
Wendy Au ◽  
Noralou P. Roos ◽  
...  

A newborn screen designed to predict family risk was examined to: (a) determine whether all families with newborns were screened; (b) evaluate its predictive validity for identifying risk of out-of-home placement, as a proxy for maltreatment; (c) determine which items were most predictive of out-of-home placement. All infants born in Manitoba, Canada from 2000 to 2002 were followed until March 31, 2004 ( N = 40,886) by linking four population-based data sets: (a) newborn screening data on biological, psychological, and social risks; (b) population registry data on demographics; (c) hospital discharge data on newborn birth records; (d) data on children entering out-of-home care. Of the study population, 18.4% were not screened and 3.0% were placed in out-of-home care at least once during the study period. Infants not screened were twice as likely to enter care compared to those screened (4.9% vs. 2.5%). Infants screening at risk were 15 times more likely to enter care than those screening “not at risk.” Sensitivity and specificity of the screen were 77.6% and 83.3%, respectively. Screening efforts to identify vulnerable families missed a substantial portion of families needing support. The screening tool demonstrated moderate predictive validity for identifying children at risk of entering care in the first years of life.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson C. Gerdes ◽  
Lauren M. Haack ◽  
Brian W. Schneider

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-711
Author(s):  
Ailbhe Ruane ◽  
Alan Carr ◽  
Valerie Moffat

In this qualitative study, we evaluated parents’ and facilitators’ experiences of the Group Stepping Stones Triple P (GSSTP) programme for parents of children with disabilities. The study was embedded in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of GSSTP and carried out in the Irish public health service. Eight parents and three psychologists participated in the study. We used a semi-structured interview schedule to collect data and conducted a thematic content analysis of interview transcripts to identify particularly useful and less helpful aspects of the programme and ways that its future delivery may be improved. We conducted separate analyses on parent and psychologist data. The main findings were that parents considered the GSSTP to have helped them develop better self-regulation and behaviour management skills, which contributed to improved family relations. Negative aspects of the programme included the use of dated videos, the volume of programme content, the attrition rate and the shortcomings of the programme in meeting the complex needs of vulnerable families. Improvement suggestions included increasing flexibility of manualised content, providing follow-up support to vulnerable parents, incentivizing parents to attend and updating videos.


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