Higher Levels of Harsh Parenting During the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Netherlands.
Child Maltreat
; 27(2): 156-162, 2022 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1273210
ABSTRACT
Previous studies on the impact of COVID-19 indicate that pandemic-related distress increases risks for child maltreatment, although data on the scope of this problem are still scarce. Here, we assessed whether parents with toddlers (n = 206) more often used harsh discipline during the lockdown in the Netherlands compared to a matched parent sample collected prior to the pandemic (n = 1,030). Parents were matched on background characteristics using propensity score matching. We found that harsh parenting levels were significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. Harsh parenting behaviors with a low prevalence before COVID-19 increased most strongly shaking, calling names, and calling the child stupid. These results suggest that parental tolerance for children's disobedience is lower under the adverse circumstances of COVID-19 and, as a result, abusive parenting responses are more difficult to inhibit. Thus, a lockdown seems to increase risks for child maltreatment, underscoring the need for effective support strategies for at-risk families.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Child Abuse
/
Quarantine
/
Parenting
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
/
Infant
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Child Maltreat
Journal subject:
Pediatrics
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
10775595211024748
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