COVID-19 pandemic takes a toll on parents’ mental health

In Singapore, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures affected parents’ lives and family dynamics, leading to mental health decline, according to a survey.

“[We] set out to test three research hypotheses [and found] significant changes in jobs and income, childcare arrangements, family dynamics, and parents’ perceived mental health across three timepoints,” said the researchers.

Of the 198 families surveyed, 180 mothers and 166 fathers retrospectively reported daily activities, stressors, and mental health of family members during three phases: before local transmission or pre-pandemic (phase 1), during local transmission but pre-lockdown (phase 2), and during lockdown (phase 3). [J Child Fam Stud 2023;32:555-570]

 

Hypothesis 1: Family dynamics, parents’ daily activities change

Overall, fathers held more authoritarian values than mothers (B=0.036). Conversely, mothers were more likely to set rules for their kids than fathers (B=0.319) and had more conflict with both their kids (B=0.429) and other adult household members (B=0.326).

Rule setting from both parents was more frequent during phase 2 than phase 1. Kids were obliged to follow without explanation, subsequently driving the increased conflict between them and their parents, up until phase 3 (p<0.001 for both phases).

Phase 1 saw more mums playing with their kids (B=-0.083) and more dads meeting their kids’ basic needs (B=-0.069). But by phase 3, both parents got more involved in these tasks, even with tutoring their kids’ homework (p<0.05 for all).

 

Hypothesis 2: Changes tied to increased mental health issues in parents

However, along with these changes came increased mental health issues in both parents during phase 2 (B=0.356), more so by phase 3 (B=0.299). “The top two stressors for both [parents] during lockdown were concerns about family members’ health and safety, [as well as] their own,” said the researchers.

The pandemic and lockdown compelled mums to spend more time on housework (p<0.001). It also triggered more conflict between both parents and other adults in the household (p<0.001). “[These factors] predicted concurrent mental health,” they added.

The increased housework could have been due to the extended periods of time spent at home by family members given the stay-at-home mandate. “[There was a] need to keep the home environment clean and conducive for remote working and learning,” they said.

Mental health issues stemming from conflicts between adults may have been driven by increased maladaptive processes (eg, hostility, withdrawal, less responsive support) that come with stress, as these undermine relationship quality.

 

Hypothesis 3: Mental health change moderated by demographic factors, parenting values

Age was a significant predictor for mothers’ mental health during phase 3 (B=-0.038). Younger mums experienced sharper increases in anxiety and depression than older mums, perhaps owing to less stable coping mechanisms in the face of stress.

Parents with a graduate or professional degree experienced a sharper increase in mental health problems than those holding a post-secondary diploma, both from phase 1 to 2 (B=0.338) and phase 2 to 3 (B=0.421). “These results suggest that … parents with very high education levels [were] more vulnerable to mental health deterioration during COVID-19,” they explained, citing potential unemployment and financial strains as probable mental stressors. Trying to balance work and household responsibilities may have also played a role.

Mental health issues of high authoritarian fathers increased significantly from phase 1 to 2 (B=0.451) and phase 2 to 3 (B=0.391). According to the researchers, conflicts with their children could be a trigger, especially with kids falling short of their high standards.

 

Important implications

“[Our] findings have important theoretical and practical implications,” said the researchers. On a theoretical note, the pandemic somehow tested families’ abilities to operate under pressure. Future studies should look into mechanisms that could explain for the associations between parenting practices under stress, family dynamics, and mental health.

“In practice, these findings call for attention toward the social and psychological costs of lockdown measures. The negative impact on parents’ mental health should be recognized and considered in the decision to impose such measures for infection control,” said the researchers.

The results underscore the importance of mental health and of providing support should it become necessary, they added. The findings may guide policymakers in determining areas to focus on when devising programmes aimed at supporting families.