ABSTRACT
Purpose: Essential frontline workers in the retail sector face increased exposure risks to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to frequent interactions with the general public. Often these interactions are fraught with controversies over public safety protocols. The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of frontline workers' perceptions of workplace safety and customer misbehaviors on their stress and psychological distress to inform managing workplace health and safety during public health crises. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted an online survey of 3,344 supermarket workers in the state of Arizona (US) during the state's first COVID-19 pandemic wave in July 2020. Measures included mental health distress, and perceptions of workplace safety and customer behaviors. The authors utilized a mixed-methods approach combining multiple regression analyses with qualitative analyses of open-ended comments. Findings: Workers reported high rates of stress and psychological distress. Increases in mental health morbidity were correlated with perceptions of being unsafe in the workplace and concerns about negative customer encounters. Qualitative analyses reveal frustration with management's efforts to reduce risks intertwined with feelings of being unsafe and vulnerable to threatening customer encounters. Practical implications: The findings highlight the need to provide and enforce clear safety guidelines, including how to manage potential hostile customer interactions, to promote positive health workplace management during a pandemic. Originality/value: This study is among the first to assess the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the mental health of non-health care frontline essential workers and presents novel insights regarding perceived customer misbehavior and need for management support and guidance in a public health crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Mental health concerns are rising among adolescents and have intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic (APA, 2020). Specifically, externalizing behavior challenges perceived by adults as 'aggressive' place adolescents at an increased risk for negative outcomes, including poor academic achievement and involvement with the juvenile justice system (Skiba et al., 2014). Schools have a responsibility to respond to the mental health needs of adolescent students through the implementation of evidence-based intervention (Domitrovich et al., 2010). One program that has demonstrated effectiveness towards improving these outcomes is the seven-session Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) Teen program, a cognitive-behavioral skills-building intervention. In this study, the COPE program was delivered virtually, through a culturally responsive lens, to three high school students with ongoing aggressive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that the frequency and intensity of the aggressive behavior would decrease for each participant as a function of the COPE program. The behavior was operationally defined for each student and measured through direct observation by parents in the home setting. A single case multiple-baseline design was implemented. Visual analysis of data suggest that the frequency and intensity of aggressive behavior did not decrease as a function of the COPE program, indicating no intervention effect. Supplementary statistical analyses (e.g., log-response ratios) found varied intervention effects among students, ranging from no effects to small effects. Further, participants reported the COPE program as a helpful way to manage stress and would recommend it to their peers. The study results, limitations, and implications for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
This study aims to explore teachers' perceptions of the role of challenging student behavior and social-emotional learning (SEL). The problem addressed was that challenging student behavior interferes with teachers' ability to teach, and children's academic achievement. The conceptual framework that underpinned this study is the concept of social and emotional learning. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning's evidence-based five core competencies were analyzed and utilized as the model for this study. A qualitative case study was chosen as the research method for this study. Four elementary schools within the same district in California were identified, and seven heterogeneous participants were selected, including probationary or permanent teachers with various levels of experience in teaching. Data collection took place following the approval of the Institutional Review Board and consisted of a demographic questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and artifacts. The two qualitative questions that guided this research were: How do elementary school teachers in a suburban southern California school district describe their understanding of social and emotional learning? The findings revealed that teachers had a basic to advanced level of understanding of the benefits of social and emotional learning in the classroom. How do teachers describe their use of SEL to support their work with students exhibiting challenging student behavior? Findings support that teachers need knowledge and skills to understand student behavior. Emergent themes revealed that SEL must be explicitly taught, relationship is part of the SEL process, teachers' buy-in and leadership in the SEL process are necessary, teachers need support and professional development to increase SEL implementation, SEL increases engagement with students who exhibit challenging behavior, SEL supports building relationships between teachers and students with challenging behaviors, and SEL increases collaboration with school, community, and home. There is a need to expand a qualitative case study with a larger sample size. It might be even more beneficial to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on these perceptions compared to pre-pandemic perceptions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Objective: To present a case report detailing the trajectory of a caregiver-targeted intervention-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)-delivered via telehealth to a five-year-old pediatric brain cancer survivor with externalizing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The patient's medical and developmental history are presented. The patient's case conceptualization and intervention rationale are discussed. The course of the patient's PCIT treatment is described. Results: After 10 PCIT sessions following an intake session, the frequency of the patient's externalizing behaviors was reduced, and the patient's mother reported feeling more competent and less distressed. At a six-month follow-up, the patient's mother reported maintenance of treatment gains. Conclusions: Telehealth-delivered PCIT shows promise as a parent-directed intervention that can reduce parental distress and the frequency of externalizing behaviors in young children. The intervention was seen by a medically complex patient's family as feasible and acceptable for meeting their behavioral health needs during a public health emergency. Further research into PCIT's implementation possibilities may help to bridge present treatment gaps for young children with externalizing behaviors across a variety of settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This case study describes the processes and outcomes of a caregiver-directed therapy-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)-delivered remotely to a mother and her child, a five-year-old pediatric brain cancer survivor. The positive outcomes in this case support that telehealth-delivered PCIT is effective for medically complex patients. This case highlights how parent-targeted telehealth interventions can address barriers to health care-accessibility. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The demand for After-School Programs (ASP) has increased in the last decades, mainly related to the reduced availability of the family to take care of children in the after-school period. This study aimed to compare two groups of children who attend (ASP group) or not ASP (comparison group), from the first and second grade, regarding their social skills and behavior problems. Teachers assessed 120 children (half by group) across three times (one before and two during the COVID-19 pandemic). A pattern of ASP attendance was determined, in order to understand whether ASP attendance influences social skills and behavior problems. The results indicated that children who attended ASP showed higher levels of self-control and assertion skills. Higher levels of hyperactivity were reported by teachers for both groups when children came back to school after the first COVID-19 lockdown. Parents enrolled their children in ASP mostly for safety; and ASP attendance had a positive effect on social skills and negative on behavior problems. The implications of attending ASP associated to a more positive child development are discussed.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures have adversely affected the lives of people worldwide, raising concern over the pandemic's mental health consequences. Guided by a systemic model of family functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic (Prime et al., 2020), the current study aimed to examine how caregiver well-being (i.e., maternal depressive symptoms) and family organization (i.e., household chaos) are related to longitudinal trajectories of children's emotional and behavioral problems. Data were collected at four time points during and after home lockdown periods. Mothers of children (N = 230; 55% male) between the ages of two to five years were asked to complete questionnaires via an Israeli online research platform. Results indicated that emotional and behavioral problems, household chaos, and maternal depressive symptoms were the highest during the first lockdown assessment and dropped in the post-lockdown periods. Multilevel models further revealed that at the between-participants level, maternal depressive symptoms and household chaos positively predicted children's emotional and behavioral problems. At the within-participants level, household chaos fluctuations positively predicted fluctuations in child behavioral but not emotional problems. Our findings suggest that lockdowns have adverse effects on both maternal and child mental health. Screening for depressive symptoms among mothers of young children and maintaining household structure are important targets for future interventions to assist parents in navigating the multiple challenges brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to explore the role of family resilience in the relationship between parents' psychological stress and their perceptions of children's emotional and behavioral symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Background: The COVID-19 lockdown threatened the well-being of parents, with a potentially cascading effect on children's adjustment. However, the negative impact of parents' stress on children's well-being may be attenuated in resilient families. Method: During the Italian lockdown, an online survey was administered to 649 parents of at least one child aged between 5 and 17 years. Respondents completed the survey themselves and their child(ren). The Perceived Stress Scale, the Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were administered to parents. Results: Results show that family resilience is a key mechanism in the association of parents' perceived stress with their perceptions of children's emotional symptoms, prosocial behavior, and hyperactivity and that only parents' marital status moderates this relationship. Conclusion: The intervening role of family resilience emphasizes the need to empower parents and families during the pandemic crisis. Implications: By strengthening family resilience, family resources maybe strengthened to meet new challenges more effectively.
ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to examine the direct and indirect contributions of parenting daily hassles and approaches to children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample for this study was 338 preschool children (53.6% girls, Mage = 56.33 months, SD = 15.14) and their parents in Turkey. Parents reported their daily hassles, parenting approaches, and children's behavior problems. Findings from the structural equation model showed that higher levels of parenting daily hassles predicted higher levels of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. In addition, we found an indirect effect of daily hassles on children's internalizing behaviors via positive parenting. Further, there was an indirect path from parenting daily hassles to children's externalizing behaviors through the negative parenting approach. Results are discussed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
In this report, we complement our latest fall 2021 survey research from the American School District Panel with in-depth interviews of leaders on the ground in five school systems. Our goal with these interviews was to learn from system leaders about the academic needs of children as they return to school, how districts and charter schools are addressing those needs, and how the pandemic has affected schools. In Brief: (1) Education leaders across the country recognize that students are falling behind academically during the pandemic. Some districts are responding by emphasizing grade-level instruction and just-in-time supports rather than remediation. We interviewed top leaders in five school systems committed to this approach to learn more about its implementation, (2) We found that implementing acceleration required school systems to work with schools in new ways, but the strategy was complicated by a host of factors that made getting to instruction difficult: challenging student behaviors, staffing shortages, and the politicization of health, safety, and education. All these pressures have made leading school districts in 2021-22 like playing a game of Whack-A-Mole, and (3) School districts across the country are working hard to catch students up. But the Whack-A-Mole experience of leading during the pandemic raises questions about how these pressures will affect system leaders and leadership and whether, in the future, schools alone will be able to do enough to help all students get the help they need to recover. [For latest fall 2021 survey research from the American School District Panel, "Flux in the Educator Labor Market: Acute Staff Shortages and Projected Superintendent Departures. Selected Findings from the Fourth American School District Panel Survey. Data Note: Insights from the American Educator Panels. Research Report. RR-A956-9," see ED617372.]
ABSTRACT
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic period, distance education is attempted at all levels of education in Turkey and the world. The present study examines how the education process is shaped during the COVID-19 period for children with special needs and their families. The case study design was implemented as a qualitative research method. The study group sample was composed of 11 parents who reside in various districts of the city of Istanbul and who have children with special needs attending special education rehabilitation centers. The interviews conducted in the scope of the study showed that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic process on children with special needs had behavioral and social-emotional reflections. Behavioral problems and reflections in behavioral difficulties in children with special needs were observed as a disability in comprehension due to developmental issues, hypermobility, and pandemic period's positive influence. In terms of reflections of social-emotional problems, children with special needs experience shyness due to being ridiculed. The study concluded that children feel the need to go out of their home and feel fear/anxiety and longing for the family to move to another city. The research results showed that children could not perform activities due to boredom, screen addiction, and missing friends. Interviews suggested that the COVID-19 process created specific needs and problems for parents and social-emotional reflections. Problems experienced by the families were determined as health problems, inability to spare time for other siblings, conflict between spouses, distress due to not being able to go out, mother being the only parent responsible for child- care, financial difficulties and educational guidance. Overall results of the study suggest that necessary measures need to be taken to ensure that children with special needs receive one-to-one education.
ABSTRACT
Research Findings: Early childhood workers (ECW's) play a pivotal role in shaping children's emotional competence. This study examined the efficacy of Tuning in to Kids for Kindergarten Teachers (TIK-KT) used with CLASS observations to improve ECW's emotion socialization, kindergarten emotional climate and children's functioning. Five hundred and forty-eight ECW's and leaders from 49 Norwegian kindergartens (children 1-5?years) were cluster randomized into intervention or control. Senior employees from intervention kindergartens received a two-day TIK-KT training, ECW's participated in a one-day training to learn emotion socialization skills and then ECW's received supervision to use emotion coaching with the children. Baseline and 10-month follow-up measures included questionnaires with ECW's and parents, and observations of kindergartens. Compared to controls, intervention ECW's reported a significant decrease in emotion dismissing and distraction, and a significant increase in emotion coaching. Intervention but not control kindergartens were observed to have significantly increased positive climate, teacher sensitivity, regard for student/child perspective, and behavior guidance. There was no change in parent reported child behavior;however, floor effects at baseline and a short follow-up during the COVID pandemic may have made change difficult to detect. Practice or Policy: These findings provide preliminary support for use of TIK-KT as a universal intervention.
ABSTRACT
This study aims to explore teachers' perceptions of the role of challenging student behavior and social-emotional learning (SEL). The problem addressed was that challenging student behavior interferes with teachers' ability to teach, and children's academic achievement. The conceptual framework that underpinned this study is the concept of social and emotional learning. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning's evidence-based five core competencies were analyzed and utilized as the model for this study. A qualitative case study was chosen as the research method for this study. Four elementary schools within the same district in California were identified, and seven heterogeneous participants were selected, including probationary or permanent teachers with various levels of experience in teaching. Data collection took place following the approval of the Institutional Review Board and consisted of a demographic questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and artifacts. The two qualitative questions that guided this research were: How do elementary school teachers in a suburban southern California school district describe their understanding of social and emotional learning? The findings revealed that teachers had a basic to advanced level of understanding of the benefits of social and emotional learning in the classroom. How do teachers describe their use of SEL to support their work with students exhibiting challenging student behavior? Findings support that teachers need knowledge and skills to understand student behavior. Emergent themes revealed that SEL must be explicitly taught, relationship is part of the SEL process, teachers' buy-in and leadership in the SEL process are necessary, teachers need support and professional development to increase SEL implementation, SEL increases engagement with students who exhibit challenging behavior, SEL supports building relationships between teachers and students with challenging behaviors, and SEL increases collaboration with school, community, and home. There is a need to expand a qualitative case study with a larger sample size. It might be even more beneficial to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on these perceptions compared to pre-pandemic perceptions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Students with visual impairments (VI) and multiple disabilities (MD) often exhibit challenging behavior, yet school staff's use of evidence-based practices in behavior management is reportedly low. In this article, we share the results of a collaborative professional development (PD) aimed at increasing school staff buy-in and use of individualized positive behavior interventions and supports (I-PBIS) with students with VI and MD. Ten staff, including teachers, paraeducators, and related services, working in a self-contained school for students with VI participated in four weekly, collaborative small group modules on research-based I-PBIS strategies. The Covid-19 pandemic occurred mid-study, which affected implementation of the program and collection of outcome data;however, pre- to post-PD participants' supportive beliefs regarding I-PBIS increased significantly. Participant-reported knowledge and use of I-PBIS also increased but did not reach significance. In addition, participants found the PD highly acceptable and useful in their work with students with VI and MD who engage in challenging behavior. Implications for increasing school staff support for and use of I-PBIS with students with VI and MD are discussed.
ABSTRACT
There is ample evidence that young children's screen media use has sharply increased since the outbreak of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, the long-term impact of these changes on children's adjustment is currently unclear. The goals of the current study were to assess longitudinal trajectories of young children's screen media exposure through a series of national COVID-19 home lockdowns and to examine the predictive associations between different aspects of media exposure and post-lockdown behavioral adjustment. Data were collected at four timepoints during and after home lockdown periods in Israel. Longitudinal data measuring various aspects of media use, behavioral conduct and emotional problems were gathered from a sample of 313 Israeli children (54% females) between the ages two to five years (Mage at T1 = 3.6), by surveying their mothers at 5 points in time. Child overall screen time use, exposure to background television, use of media to regulate child distress and maternal mobile device use all changed throughout the lockdown periods. Moreover, during lockdowns children's behavior problems were concurrently and positively correlated with screen time, use of media to regulate child distress, and exposure to background television. However, these were not longitudinally related to child behavior problems in the post-lockdown period. Possible implications for family media use during a public health crisis are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Within the discipline of public health, it is commonly understood that health outcomes are influenced by more than genetics and behavior. Many health problems can be firmly linked to a political determinant that created and is perpetuating health inequities in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequities, causing disproportionate outcomes, particularly for vulnerable and minoritized groups, including older adults. This article addresses the "isms" plaguing America's health, while offering novel solutions to forge a path toward recovery and, ultimately, advancing health equity.
ABSTRACT
We examined the direct and indirect links between COVID-19, maternal anxiety symptoms, and child behavior problems as well as the mediation-moderation links of mothers' anxiety symptoms and mentalization skills with the prediction of child behavior problems. A sample of 140 Israeli mothers with preschool children comprised the study's two groups: A COVID-19 group (n = 53), recruited shortly after the pandemic outbreak, and a pre-COVID-19 group (n = 87), recruited prior to the pandemic. Mothers completed online questionnaires regarding their own anxiety symptoms (BSI anxiety subscale) and their children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors (CBCL). Maternal mentalization was assessed via the mind-mindedness representational procedure. Findings showed that mothers in the COVID-19 group experienced more anxiety symptoms and perceived their children as having more externalizing and internalizing behaviors compared to mothers in the pre-COVID-19 group. Mothers' anxiety symptoms mediated the effect of the pandemic on children's behaviors so that the higher the mothers' anxiety, the more externalizing and internalizing behaviors among the children. Mothers' mentalization moderated the association between the pandemic and the children's externalizing behaviors. Specifically, when mothers showed higher mentalization skills (higher mind-mindedness), the indirect effect of anxiety on the link between COVID-19 and children's externalizing behaviors was weaker compared to when mothers showed lower mentalization skills (lower mind-mindedness). The implications of these findings for preventive and treatment interventions that aim to reduce maternal anxiety and enhance mentalization skills to prevent children's behavior problems in the context of COVID-19 are discussed.
ABSTRACT
ZusammenfassungSchülerinnen und Schüler waren in der COVID-19-Pandemie stark von Maßnahmen wie Schulschließungen und Homeschooling betroffen. Dass sich diese Maßnahmen auf die Leistungen der Schülerinnen und Schüler auswirken, liegt auf der Hand. Es besteht allerdings auch Grund zur Annahme, dass sich die Situation auf die sozial-emotionale Entwicklung der Kinder und Jugendlichen auswirkt.Die vorliegende Studie untersucht, (1) inwiefern sich Schülerinnen und Schüler der österreichischen Sekundarstufe (12- bis 13-Jährige) durch die COVID-19-Pandemie belastet fühlen (anhand der erfragten Häufigkeit von durch COVID-19 induziertem Angsterleben) und (2) wie sich die unterschiedlichen Belastungslevels auf die sozial-emotionale Entwicklung auswirken. Es wird dabei ein Fokus auf die Entwicklung von problematischen Verhaltensweisen einerseits (internalisierte und externalisierte Verhaltensprobleme) und auf prosoziales Verhalten andererseits gelegt. Insgesamt nahmen 774 Schülerinnen und Schüler an der Studie teil. Von 650 liegen die Daten zu drei Messzeitpunkten vor, wobei der letzte Messzeitpunkt kurz vor der zweiten Schulschließung als Maßnahme in der COVID-Pandemie abgehalten wurde.Knapp 20 % der Befragten weisen erhöhte Scores in Bezug auf durch COVID-19 induzierter Angst auf. Vor allem bei den internalisierten Verhaltensproblemen schienen die Schülerinnen und Schüler, die höhere Scores bei durch COVID-19 induzierter Angst zeigten, sich negativ zu entwickeln. Ebenso konnte bei den externalisierten Verhaltensproblemen ein Trend in diese Richtung nachgewiesen werden, jedoch weniger stark ausgeprägt. Schülerinnen und Schüler, die höhere Scores in Bezug auf durch COVID-19 ausgelöste Angst aufwiesen, gaben augenscheinlich auch positivere Selbsteinschätzungen hinsichtlich prosozialer Verhaltensweisen an. Allerdings konnte aufgrund von Voraussetzungsverletzungen keine weitere statistische Überprüfung dieser Verhaltensdimension stattfinden.
ABSTRACT
The present study examines the associations between COVID-19-related stressors and family functioning 6 months into the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of low-income caregivers and their preschool-aged children. It is hypothesized that COVID-19-related stressors, family illness, job loss, and difficulties accessing resources will be positively correlated with parenting stress, parent psychological distress, and child behavior problems. 42 caregivers (aged 16-70 yrs), recruited from a Head Start preschool program, completed an online survey about personal or family COVID-19 illness, job loss, resource loss, psychological distress, child behavior problems, and parenting stress. 14% of caregivers reported experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and 5% reported they had received a COVID-19 diagnosis at the time of study completion. The majority of caregivers, 60%, indicated they had a family member diagnosed with COVID-19. Most caregivers reported they had consistent employment during the COVID-19 pandemic (69%), while 31% reported losing their job. Over a third of caregivers reported "extremely" to difficulties in financial loss, paying rent or bills, and accessing childcare. Results suggest that COVID-19 diagnoses and higher levels of family resource loss are correlated with parenting stress, caregiver psychological distress, and child behavior problems. Only parenting stress was associated with child behavior problems after controlling for COVID-19 diagnoses and resource loss. The present findings also suggest that resource loss may be important to consider in policies designed to aid families with young children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Theoretical Background: Over the last 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial restrictions in the everyday life of preschoolers. Objective: Our study investigates how preschoolers and their parents perceived the pandemic during the last 2 years. Based on preliminary findings demonstrating a pandemic-related increase in mental health problems, we further investigated enduring pandemic effects on the mental health of children. We hypothesized that family resilience is reduced after 1 year of the pandemic. Moreover, we expected a decline in overall mental health compared to prepandemic studies. Finally, we hypothesized that increased family tension and the stress regulation of children predict mental health problems. Method: In two online surveys conducted in May 2020 and March 2021, we collected the data of N = 304 parents and their children (aged 1-6 years). We assessed parents' and children's (self- and parent-reported) perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic's impact on family resilience, and (May 2021) children's mental health problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman et al., 1998). Because of the small sample size of both studies, we decided to cross-sectionally compare the surveys. Results: In tine with our hypothesis, children and parents reported higher levels of family tension and reduced stress-regulation abilities in 2021 compared to 2020. Moreover, parents reported increased levels of negative affect toward COVID-19. We found no significant changes in perceived infection risk but did find increased levels of mental health problems, especially externalizing problems in 2021 compared to prepandemic studies. Finally, the stress regulation of the children and family tension were significant predictors of the mental health problems of children. Discussion and Conclusion: Our findings highlight the persistent negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of preschoolers white also providing evidence for the psychological factors of resilience.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Psychosocial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing particularly in parents. Although being specifically vulnerable to negative environmental exposures, research on psychosocial stress factors in infants' and toddlers' families during the pandemic is so far sparse. The CoronabaBY study investigates the perceived pandemic burden, parenting stress and parent and child mental health problems in families with children aged 0-3 years in Bavaria, Southern Germany. Further, the relationships between these psychosocial stressors are examined and sociodemographic characteristics that may be predictive of these factors will be explored. METHODS: Participants were cross-sectionally surveyed via smartphone app. Standardized questionnaires on perceived pandemic burden, parenting stress, parental symptoms of depression and anxiety, infants' crying, sleeping and feeding problems or toddlers' emotional and behavioral problems were applied. RESULTS: N = 991 parents (Mage = 33.7 years, SD = 4.5; 93.7% mothers, 91.5% born in Germany) with infants (n = 554; Mage = 5.9 months, SD = 3.0) or toddlers (n = 435; Mage = 25.9 months, SD = 6.5) participated in the first half-year of 2021. Sixty-five percent of the parents perceived a high pandemic burden, 37.7% experienced parenting stress and 24.1% showed affective symptoms (anxiety: 30.1%, depression: 18.5%). Feeding problems, crying/ sleeping problems and multiple regulatory problems were found in 34.8%, 26.2% and 13.5% of the infants, respectively. Amongst toddlers, 8.5% showed noticeable behavior and emotional problems. Children`s mental health problems correlated moderately with parenting stress and parental affective symptoms and weakly with perceived pandemic burden. A lower financial status, higher parental education and increasing child age were significant but weak predictors for higher parenting stress, affective symptoms and higher psychological problems in children. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of the surveyed families with infants and toddlers experience the pandemic as stressful. The main challenges are parental affective symptoms and limited resources for childcare due to parenting stress. Overall, infants and toddlers show similar levels of mental health problems when being compared to pre-pandemic studies, but staggered detrimental effects on children`s mental health might occur if the stressful conditions persist. This is already indicated by correlations between parental and child psychosocial stress factors.