Longitudinal Relations Between Parental Strain, Parent–Child Relationship Quality, and Child Well-Being During the Unfolding COVID-19 Pandemic

As COVID-19 sweeps across the globe, scientists have identified children and families as possibly particularily vulnerable populations. The present study employed a developmental framework with two measurement points (the first at the peak of the lockdown restrictions (N = 2,921), the second after restrictions had been majorly loosened (N = 890)) to provide unique insights into the relations between parental strain, child well-being, and child problem behavior. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed longitudinal effects of child well-being and problem behavior at T1 on parental strain at T2 with parent–child relationship quality as a moderator. True intraindividual change models showed that decreases in parental strain between measurement points predicted increases in child well-being and decreases in child problem behavior. Thus, the present research points to parental stress coping and child emotional adjustment as promising avenues for professionals and policy makers in their efforts to ensure child and family well-being throughout the pandemic.

PARENTING STYLES AND THEIR IMPACTS ON CHILD PROBLEM BEHAVIORS

Managing child problem behaviors as early as possible is crucial. Several studies have shown the impact of parenting on child problem behavior; however, the studies did not investigate the influence of paternal and maternal parenting on child behavior separately. This study aimed to test the effect of mothers’ and fathers’ authoritative and authoritarian parenting on child problem behavior. Furthermore, this study examined the influence of family adjustment on parenting styles. Participants were 105 pairs of parents (fathers and mothers). They completed a set of questionnaires assessing their parenting styles, child problem behavior, and family adjustment. Multiple regression analyses resulted in a significant effect of mothers’ authoritative parenting on child emotional problems, as well as significant effects of fathers’ authoritative and authoritarian parenting on child behavioral problems. Another key finding was that parental teamwork predicted the effectiveness of parenting.