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.
ABSTRACT
Background: To control a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak, the state of Victoria in Australia experienced one of the world's first long and strict lockdowns over July-October 2020, while the rest of Australia experienced 'COVID-normal' with minimal restrictions. Objectives: To (1) investigate trajectories of parent/child MH outcomes in Victoria vs non-Victoria and (2) identify baseline demographic, individual and factors related to COVID-19 associated with MH trajectories. Methods: An online community sample of 2004 Australian parents of a child aged 0-18 years with rapid repeated assessment over 14 time points from April 2020 to May 2021. Measures assessed parent MH (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21), child depression symptoms (13-item Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) and child anxiety symptoms (4 items from the Brief Spence Children's Anxiety Scale). Findings: MH trajectories shadowed COVID-19 infection rates. Victorians reported a peak in MH symptoms at the time of the second-wave lockdown compared to other states. Key baseline predictors, including parent and child loneliness (standardised regression coefficient (β) = 0.09- 0.46), parent/child diagnoses (β = 0.07-0.21), couple conflict (β = 0.07-0.18), and COVID-19 stressors, such as worry/concern about COVID-19, illness and loss of job (β = 0.12-0.15)), predicted elevated trajectories. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of worse trajectories of parent and child MH symptoms associated with a second COVID-19 outbreak involving strict lockdown in Victoria, compared to non-locked states in Australia. We identified several baseline factors that may be useful in detecting high-risk families who are likely to require additional support early in future lockdowns.