Parents are Stressed! Factors that Influence Parenting During COVID-19
Abstract Objective: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused numerous unexpected challenges for many families, and these long-lasting demands have likely contributed to higher amounts of stress for most parents. The aim of this study was to describe changes in parent stress from before to during COVID-19, and examine if work related-factors (e.g., family job layoff / furlough) were associated with changes in parent stress. Factors that parents felt influenced their parenting and strategies to effectively manage parenting difficulties during COVID-19 were also examined. Methods: Parents (N=584; 95% female) in the US with >1 child aged 5-18 years completed a single online survey in April-May 2020, ~2 months after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Survey measures included the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, where parents reported on their stress prior to COVID-19 (via retrospective-report) and again during COVID-19 (thinking about their current situation). Parents also reported on their parenting-specific stress, factors that influenced parenting, and strategies implemented to manage parenting difficulties during COVID-19. Paired sample t-tests examined changes in parent stress from before to during COVID-19. Results: Parents’ perceived stress increased from before to during COVID-19 (16.2±5.6 vs. 22.0±6.3; p<0.01), with an even greater increase for parents with a family job loss / furlough or a decrease in family income (p<0.01). Only ~4% of all parents reported high stress before COVID-19, whereas 22% reported high stress during COVID-19. Most parents (72.8%) reported an increase parenting-specific stress from before to during COVID-19, and 34.6% reported that it was very difficult to continue parenting in the same way as they did prior to COVID-19. Common factors influencing parenting were a change in children’s daily structure/routines, worry about COVID-19, and demands of online schooling. Strategies used to manage parenting difficulties were doing family activities together, keeping in touch with family/friends virtually, and keeping children on a daily routine. Conclusions: Parent stress increased substantially during COVID-19, suggesting a need for enhanced access to mental health resources and emotional supports. Public health interventions should address parenting-specific stressors and effective strategies for managing parenting difficulties to mitigate their deleterious impact.