Daily stress, family functioning and mental health among Palestinian couples in Israel during COVID-19: A moderated mediation model

The COVID-19 pandemic created a range of stressors, among them difficulties related to work conditions, financial changes, lack of childcare, and confinement or isolation due to social distancing. Among families and married individuals, these stressors were often expressed in additional daily hassles, with an influence on mental health. This study examined two moderated mediation models based on Bodenmann's systemic-transactional stress model. Specifically, the models tested the hypothesis that intra-dyadic stress mediates the association between extra-dyadic stress and mental health, while two measures of family functioning, cohesion and flexibility, moderate the relationship between extra and intra-dyadic stress. Participants were 480 Palestinian adults in Israel who completed self-report questionnaires. All were in opposite-sex marriages and identified as either cisgender women or cisgender men. The results showed partial mediation patterns supporting both models, indicating that family cohesion and flexibility weakened the mediating effect of intra-dyadic stress on the relationship between extra-dyadic stress and mental health. These findings increase our understanding of the variables that affected mental health during the pandemic, and suggest that when faced with extra-dyadic stress, married individuals with good family environments are less likely to experience high levels of intra-dyadic stress, which is in turn associated with preserved mental health. Limitations and implications for planning interventions for couples and families during the pandemic are discussed.

COVID-19–related stressors, family functioning and mental health in Canada: Test of indirect effects

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how family relationships relate to stress and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic response in Ontario, Canada. Background: Generally, families are pillars of strength during times of stress and burden. However, enduring stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may challenge the cohesion and caregiving functions of families. Researchers are just beginning to explore stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, family functioning, and mental health in the general population. Rooted in stress process theory, the current study disentangles the complex pathways through which COVID-19-pandemic-related stressors and family cohesion and family conflict are associated with the mental health of the general population in Ontario, Canada. Method: Data were collected using an online survey from April 22, 2020, to May 22, 2020. Through convenience sampling, 933 individuals were recruited from the general population in Ontario, Canada. Results: Findings suggest that COVID-19-pandemic- related stressors are associated with anxiety directly and indirectly through eroding family cohesion and exacerbating family conflicts. Conclusion: By looking into family cohesion and family conflicts simultaneously, this investigation has taken a nuanced approach to studying the influence of COVID-19-pandemic-related stressors on family functioning. Implications: These findings suggest that efforts to assist families in bolstering cohesiveness may be helpful. Further, diminishing family conflicts, especially during community or global disasters, such as epidemics, pandemics, or natural disasters, should be a focus in both practice and future research.

Poverty during COVID-19: Exploring positive outcomes and levels of family cohesion

Poverty can negatively impact an individual's life, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been just one more potential stressor to families in already vulnerable positions. However, given the research supporting family cohesion serving as a protective factor against adversity, the current study explored the positive outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported by families in need within Southwest Ohio and receiving services from the Success Program (SP). Additionally, the study examined whether there were differences between reported positivity based on families with low family cohesion and families with high family cohesion. Results from the study indicated that the majority of participants reported a sense of togetherness and or closeness as the main positive outcome of the pandemic. Whether participants had low or high family cohesion did not appear to factor into the frequency of togetherness and closeness being recognized as positive for these families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Emotional and Family Functioning of Middle-Aged Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Present study was carried out to investigate the relationship between emotional functioning and family functioning of middle-aged mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a mixed method approach was used in the second phase of study to explore factors contributing to family conflict and family cohesion. A purposive sample of 100 middle-aged mothers (age ranged between 40-45 years) was approached for this study. The participants were given the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (Cooper & Pertrides, 2010) for measuring emotional functioning and Covid-19 Household Environment Scale (Behar-Zusman et al., 2020) for measuring family functioning. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between emotional functioning, family cohesion, and a significant negative correlation between emotional functioning and family conflict. Moreover, it was observed that family functioning of mothers living in nuclear family system was better than those living in joint family system. The qualitative phase of the study revealed that factors related to finances, household work, limited resources, relationship deterioration etc. contributed to family conflict. While factors of increase quality time, emotional responsiveness, communication, and communal problem solving, contributed to family cohesion. The findings provide comprehensive insight into the characteristics of family functioning in the context of Covid-19 pandemic © 2022, Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research.All Rights Reserved.

Effect of Family Cohesion on Depression of Chinese College Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Chain Mediation Effect of Perceived Social Support and Intentional Self-Regulation

Individuals' perceptions, attitudes, and patterns of getting along with family members are important factors influencing Chinese people's self-evaluation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of family cohesion on depression and the role of perceived social support and intentional self-regulation in this association. A hypothe-sized model of the association of family cohesion, perceived social support, intentional self-regulation, and depression was examined. A convenience sampling method was used to survey 1,180 college students in Yunnan Province using self-report. Data were collected using the Family Cohesion Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Intentional Self-Regulation Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The findings revealed low to moderate correlation between the variables studied. College students' family cohesion was a negative predictor of their depression. This association was also mediated by the knock-on effect of perceived social support and intentional self-regulation. These findings show how family cohesion affects college stu-dents' depressive status. Specifically, these results help demonstrate the importance of family cohesion, perceived social support, and intentional self-regulation in optimizing students' depression, which in turn can promote bet-ter psychological states. © 2023, Tech Science Press. All rights reserved.

Poverty during COVID-19: Exploring positive outcomes and levels of family cohesion

Poverty can negatively impact an individual's life, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been just one more potential stressor to families in already vulnerable positions. However, given the research supporting family cohesion serving as a protective factor against adversity, the current study explored the positive outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported by families in need within Southwest Ohio and receiving services from the Success Program (SP). Additionally, the study examined whether there were differences between reported positivity based on families with low family cohesion and families with high family cohesion. Results from the study indicated that the majority of participants reported a sense of togetherness and or closeness as the main positive outcome of the pandemic. Whether participants had low or high family cohesion did not appear to factor into the frequency of togetherness and closeness being recognized as positive for these families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Faith-Based Community Members, Family, and COVID-19: The Role of Family Cohesion, Social Support, and Spiritual Support on Quality of Life, Depression, and COVID-19-Prevention Behaviors.

This study examined relationships between family cohesion, social support/spiritual support, and quality of life and depression among faith-based community members during the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions. Drawing upon the buffering model of social support and family cohesion as theoretical frameworks, the authors examined these factors in a survey of 551 faith-based community members between March 2020 and June 2020. Family cohesion had a direct and indirect effect (mediated by overall social support and spiritual support on quality of life). Moreover, family cohesion only had a direct effect on depression (e.g., not mediated by overall social support or spiritual support). Greater family cohesion and overall social support were predictive of increased COVID-19-prevention behaviors, while spiritual support was predictive of reduced COVID-19-prevention behaviors.

Prevalence and associated factors of psychosocial and behavioral problems in Indonesian adolescent students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent measures to control it, such as social distancing, school closure, and online learning, put adolescent students at higher risk of psychosocial and behavioral problems (PSBP). The adverse potential is more concerning as the outbreak continues, especially in limited-resource countries, and requires further mitigation. Objective: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with PSBP in Indonesian adolescent students in the COVID-19 pandemic. Subject/methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, involving junior high school students. An anonymous online questionnaire in google form format was used to collect demographic data and the potential variables and screen the PSBP with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Logistic regression was applied to determine the independent variables. Results: Six hundred seventy-six subjects participated, including 237 males (35.1%) and 439 females (64.9%). There were 34.6% subjects with PSBP, with a peer-relation problem as the most common one. The multivariable logistic regression showed that subjects with longer screen time duration and more family conflicts were more likely to have PSBP, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.1, p = 0.025) and 2.4 (95% CI: 1.5-3.8, p < 0.001), respectively, whereas whom with better family cohesion are less likely to have the problem with an adjusted OR of 0.4 (95% CI: 0.3-0.6, p < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of PSBP among Indonesian adolescent students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Longer screen time duration and more family conflict are associated with higher prevalence, whereas better family cohesion with lower prevalence of PSBP.

Family Cohesion and Sleep Disturbances During COVID-19: the Mediating Roles of Security and Stress.

Despite the increase in proximity to one's family amid university closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mechanisms underlying how family cohesion influenced students' sleep remain understudied. Using a large sample of college students in China (N = 1,178) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current study examined the serial mediating roles of sense of security and perceived stress on the effect of family cohesion on sleep disturbance. Generalized linear modeling serial mediation analysis with 1,000 resampled bootstrapping methods showed that sense of security and perceived stress were negatively and positively associated with sleep disturbance, respectively. Furthermore, sense of security and perceived stress fully mediated the indirect effect of family cohesion on sleep disturbances. Implications and conclusions are discussed.

Factors affecting parent health-promotion behavior in early childhood according to family cohesion: Focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: We investigated and compared the factors influencing parents' promotion of healthy behavior in young children according to their family cohesion level during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 432 parents of young children (ages 1-6) in six South Korean cities (320 and 112 from the high and low family cohesion groups, respectively). We collected data using self-report questionnaires on parents' health promotion behavior, stress, risk perception due to COVID-19, positive psychological capital, and family cohesion, and analyzed it using stepwise multiple regressions with the SPSS program. RESULTS: The factors influencing parents' health promotion behavior differed across the family cohesion groups. For the high group, family cohesion, positive psychological capital, gender, and stress significantly affected parents' health promotion behavior (adjusted R2 = 0.22, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, for the low group, positive psychological capital, gender, stress and parents' health status significantly affected parents' health promotion behavior (adjusted R2 = 0.19, p < 0.001). Thus, stress, positive psychological capital, and gender were common factors of parents' health promotion behavior overall, regardless of family cohesion. CONCLUSION: Our results are meaningful in finding that parents' health-related behaviors are not only affected by their individual factors, but also by family-related factors in the COVID-19 pandemic. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The study results may act as a base for improving family-centered intervention programs to promote healthy behaviors in both parents and young children based on personal and family cohesion factors.

Family Cohesion and Stress Consequences Among Chinese College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Family plays a pivotal role in individuals' mental health. During the COVID-19 epidemic, people were being quarantined at home to prevent the further spread of the virus. Therefore, the influence of family on individuals is more significant than usual. It is reasonable to assume that family cohesion can effectively alleviate the stress consequences during the COVID-19 epidemic. In the present study, a moderated mediation model was constructed to examine the mechanisms underlying the association between family cohesion and stress consequences among Chinese college students. A large sample of Chinese college students (N = 1,254, Mage = 19.85, SDage = 1.29) participated in the study. Results indicated that family cohesion was negatively related to stress consequences. Fear of COVID-19 partially mediated the link between family cohesion and stress consequences. Excessive affective empathy reported by participants served to aggravate the relation between fear of COVID-19 and stress consequences. The study helps us understand how internal and external factors affect individual mental health that provides meaningful implications for promoting mental health.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing and Social Vulnerability on Family Functioning in an International Sample of Households with and without Children.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide event that has exacerbated stress and caused significant disruptions in the day-to-day living of families. Of particular concern are socially vulnerable families, which have felt the impacts of the pandemic most acutely. Because stress can alter family dynamics, it is important to understand which stressors impact families the most, and what resources can be leveraged to strengthen family functioning. The current study examined the impacts of COVID-19 on the conflict and cohesion of households with children compared to households without children. Additionally, we sought to assess how conflict and cohesion are related to social vulnerabilities in the context of the pandemic. Using an international sample, we analyzed responses to the COVID-19 Household Environment Scale (N = 4122) using descriptive and bivariate analyses. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of family functioning in households with and without children. We found that social vulnerability was associated with more disrupted family functioning, and that households with children (n = 2666) reported less disrupted family functioning when compared to households without children (n = 1456), despite having higher social vulnerability scores. Our exploratory latent class analysis identified a 5-class model among both subgroups. Conflict, cohesion, family functioning and social vulnerability varied significantly by subgroup and class membership. Our findings add to a body of evidence that argues that despite facing greater vulnerability, households with children have many strengths to draw from. Family interventions that help to promote family cohesion and conflict resolution can foster resilience in stressful circumstances.

Mediating and Moderating Effects of Family Cohesion between Positive Psychological Capital and Health Behavior among Early Childhood Parents in Dual Working Families: A Focus on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study examined the mediating and moderating effects of family cohesion on the relationship between positive psychological capital and health promotion behaviors among dual working parents of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected data from 214 dual working parents and analyzed the results using the IMB SPSS version 26.0 software. We found that positive psychological capital had significant effects on both family cohesion (ß = 0.19, p < 0.001) and health promotion behaviors (ß = 0.26, p < 0.001), while family cohesion showed a significant mediating effect on health promotion behaviors (ß = 0.34, p = 0.002). Positive psychological capital (independent variable) also had significant effects on health promotion behaviors (ß = 0.19, p < 0.001). Finally, a Sobel test showed that family cohesion had a significant partial mediating effect on the relationship between positive psychological capital and health promotion behaviors (Z = 2.70, p = 0.005) but no moderating effect. Thus, it is necessary to enhance health promotion behaviors through programs focused on both family cohesion and positive psychological capital. However, the fact that participants in this study were only from South Korea highlights the requirement for future research that includes participants from different cultural contexts and social systems.

Perceived family adaptability and cohesion and depressive symptoms: A comparison of adolescents and parents during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of depressive symptoms and perceived family cohesion and adaptability between adolescents and parents during the pandemic; to explore the association between depressive symptoms and family cohesion and adaptability. METHODS: A total of 8,940 adolescents (45.77% males; Mean age=15.31±0.018 years old) and their parents (24.34% males; Mean age=40.78±0.60 years old) from Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, participated in the survey and completed several questionnaires online. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Family Adaptability Cohesion Scale, Second Edition, Chinese version (FACES II-CV) to evaluate depressive symptoms and family cohesion and family adaptability from the perception of parents and adolescents. RESULTS: Results indicated significant differences between adolescents' and parents' perspectives of family functions. Significant negative correlations exist between depressive symptoms and family cohesion and family adaptability from the perspectives of both adolescents and parents. In addition, regression models with demographic characteristics adjusted showed that the perceived family cohesion and adaptability of parents and adolescents and the agreements between them could be predicted by their depressive symptoms. LIMITATION: Cross-sectional study and limited population-wide are limitations. CONCLUSION: Detecting the depressive symptoms of adolescents and parents earlier and promptly providing family intervention are of great significance to promote their perceptions of family cohesion and adaptability, which contribute to the mental health development of adolescents and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19 and Online Aggressive Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, fear has run rampant across the globe. To curb the spread of the virus, several governments have taken measures to drastically transition businesses, work, and schooling to virtual settings. While such transitions are warranted and well-intended, these measures may come with unforeseen consequences. Namely, one's fear of COVID-19 may more readily manifest as aggressive behaviors in an otherwise incognito virtual social ecology. In the current research, a moderated mediation model examined the mechanisms underlying the relation between fear of COVID-19 and overt and relational aggressive online behavior among Chinese college students. Utilizing a large sample of Chinese college students (N = 2,799), results indicated that moral disengagement mediated the effect of fear of COVID-19 on college students' overt and relational online aggressive behavior. A positive family cohesion buffered the effect of moral disengagement on relational aggressive behavior, but only for females. The findings, theoretical contributions, and practical implications of the present paper are also discussed.

Developing a Measure of the Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing on Household Conflict and Cohesion.

This report introduces the COVID-19 Family Environment Scale (CHES), which aims to measure the impact of social distancing due to COVID-19 on household conflict and cohesion. Existing measures do not capture household experiences relevant to the pandemic, in which families are largely confined to their homes while sharing a life-threatening situation. Using best practice guidelines, we developed a pool of items and revised them with review by a panel of experts, and cognitive interviewing with community respondents. We administered the CHES by online survey to 3,965 adults. The CHES consists of 15 items for each of two subscales, household conflict (α = .847) and household cohesion (α = .887). Exploratory factor analysis yielded two factors, corresponding to the intended conflict and cohesion items, which accounted for 29% of variance. Confirmatory factor analysis partially supported the 2-factor model (RMSEA = .057; CFI = .729, TLI = .708, and SRMR = .098). The CHES also contains 25 optional items to describe respondent and household characteristics, and household-level COVID-19 exposure. The CHES, publicly available at https://elcentro.sonhs.miami.edu/research/measures-library/covid-19/index.html, provides a tool for measuring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on important determinants of resilience in the face of major stressful events. Further work is needed to address the factor structure and establish validity of the CHES.

Este informe presenta la Escala del Entorno Familiar de la COVID-19 (COVID-19 Family Environment Scale, CHES), cuyo fin es medir el efecto del distanciamiento social debido a la COVID-19 en el conflicto familiar y la cohesión familiar. Las herramientas de medición actuales no captan las experiencias familiares relevantes de la pandemia, en la cual las familias están en su gran mayoría confinadas en sus hogares mientras comparten una situación que pone en riesgo la vida. Utilizando pautas de mejores prácticas, desarrollamos un conjunto de ítems y los revisamos con un grupo de expertos, e hicimos entrevistas cognitivas a personas de la comunidad. Administramos la CHES mediante una encuesta en línea a 3965 adultos. La CHES consta de 15 ítems para cada una de dos subescalas, la de conflicto familiar (α = .847), y la de cohesión familiar (α = .887). El análisis factorial exploratorio dio dos factores correspondientes a los ítems planeados de conflicto y cohesión, que representaron el 22 % de la varianza. El análisis factorial confirmatorio respaldó parcialmente el modelo de dos factores (RMSEA = .057; CFI = .729, TLI = .708 y SRMR = .098). La CHES también contiene 25 ítems opcionales para describir las características de los encuestados y la familia, y el nivel de exposición de la familia a la COVID-19. La CHES, disponible públicamente en https://elcentro.sonhs.miami.edu/research/measures-library/covid-19/index.html ofrece una herramienta para medir el efecto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 en determinantes importantes de resiliencia ante situaciones de gran estrés. Se necesitan más trabajos para abordar la estructura factorial y establecer la validez de la CHES.