Westrupp, E. M., Bennett, C., Berkowitz, T., Youssef, G. J., Toumbourou, J. W., Tucker, R., Andrews, F. J., Evans, S., Teague, S. J., Karantzas, G. C., Melvin, G. M., Olsson, C., Macdonald, J. A., Greenwood, C. J., Mikocka-Walus, A., Hutchinson, D., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Stokes, M. A., Olive, L., Wood, A. G., McGillivray, J. A. and Sciberras, E. (2023). Child, parent, and family mental health and functioning in Australia during COVID-19:comparison to pre-pandemic data. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 32 (2), 317–330.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to population mental health. Despite evidence of detrimental effects for adults, there has been limited examination of the impact of COVID-19 on parents and children specifically. We aim to examine patterns of parent and child (0–18 years) mental health, parent substance use, couple conflict, parenting practices, and family functioning during COVID-19, compared to pre-pandemic data, and to identify families most at risk of poor outcomes according to pre-existing demographic and individual factors, and COVID-19 stressors. Participants were Australian mothers (81%) and fathers aged 18 years and over who were parents of a child 0–18 years (N = 2365). Parents completed an online self-report survey during ‘stage three’ COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. Data were compared to pre-pandemic data from four Australian population-based cohorts. Compared to pre-pandemic estimates, during the pandemic period parents reported higher rates of parent depression, anxiety, and stress (Cohen’s d = 0.26–0.81, all p < 0.001), higher parenting irritability (d = 0.17–0.46, all p < 0.001), lower family positive expressiveness (d = − 0.18, p < 0.001), and higher alcohol consumption (22% vs 12% drinking four or more days per week, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, we consistently found that younger parent age, increased financial deprivation, pre-existing parent and child physical and mental health conditions, COVID-19 psychological and environmental stressors, and housing dissatisfaction were associated with worse parent and child functioning and more strained family relationships. Our data suggest wide-ranging, detrimental family impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and support policy actions to assist families with financial supports, leave entitlements, and social housing.
Publication DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01861-z |
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Divisions: | College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Psychology College of Health & Life Sciences > Aston Institute of Health & Neurodevelopment (AIHN) |
Funding Information: | EW, AM, and GK were supported by Deakin Faculty of Health Mid-Career Fellowships. DH was supported by a NHMRC Investigator Grant (1197488). ES was supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1110688), a Medical Research Future Fund Investigator G |
Additional Information: | This pre-print is available under a CC-By Attribution 4.0 International licence Funding: EW, AM, and GK were supported by Deakin Faculty of Health Mid-Career Fellowships. DH was supported by a NHMRC Investigator Grant (1197488). ES was supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1110688), a Medical Research Future Fund Investigator Grant (1194297) and a Veski Inspiring Women’s Fellowship. LO was supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1158487). |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Child mental health,Couple conflict,COVID-19 pandemic,Family functioning,Mental health,Parenting,Pandemics,Parents/psychology,Humans,Australia/epidemiology,Mental Health,Parenting/psychology,COVID-19/epidemiology,Adolescent,Adult,Female,Child,Psychiatry and Mental health,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health |
Publication ISSN: | 1435-165X |
Last Modified: | 04 Nov 2024 08:55 |
Date Deposited: | 17 Sep 2021 08:47 |
Full Text Link: |
https://psyarxiv.com/ydrm9/ |
Related URLs: |
http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK
(Scopus URL) https://link.sp ... 787-021-01861-z (Publisher URL) https://osf.io/78g5t/ (Related URL) |
PURE Output Type: | Article |
Published Date: | 2023-02 |
Published Online Date: | 2021-08-21 |
Accepted Date: | 2021-08-13 |
Authors: |
Westrupp, E. M.
Bennett, C. Berkowitz, T. Youssef, G. J. Toumbourou, J. W. Tucker, R. Andrews, F. J. Evans, S. Teague, S. J. Karantzas, G. C. Melvin, G. M. Olsson, C. Macdonald, J. A. Greenwood, C. J. Mikocka-Walus, A. Hutchinson, D. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M. Stokes, M. A. Olive, L. Wood, A. G. ( 0000-0002-1537-6858) McGillivray, J. A. Sciberras, E. |