Parents have been vulnerable to psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the disruptions in social support including restricted connections to support networks and loss of access to healthcare, schools and day care centers, and community services. Based on the literature associating mindful emotion regulation with loneliness and perceived social support, the current study tested a mediation model in which mindful emotion regulation was associated with perceived social support through its mediated effect on loneliness in parents. Participants were 147 parents or those in near-parent roles caring for at least one child in their household during the pandemic in the USA. Data were collected from a national online sample at four time points: baseline (April 7-21, 2020), 30-, 60-, and 90-days later. Results of longitudinal mediational structural equation modeling supported the hypothesis that mindful emotion regulation predicted perceived social support through its mediated effect on reduced loneliness. Focusing on the needs of parents is important for promoting family and child wellbeing to ameliorate negative health consequences. Our findings indicate that mindful emotion regulation may be a promising strategy to promote perceived social support in parents by reducing feelings of loneliness during stressful times.
Sexual Minority Status and Psychological Risk for Suicide Attempt: A Serial Multiple Mediation Model of Social Support and Emotion Regulation