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Parenting under pressure: Parental transmission and buffering of child fear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uy, Jessica P; Schwartz, Chloe; Chu, Kristen A; Towner, Emily; Lemus, Alejandra; Brito, Natalie H; Callaghan, Bridget L.
  • Uy JP; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
  • Schwartz C; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
  • Chu KA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
  • Towner E; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
  • Lemus A; Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
  • Brito NH; Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
  • Callaghan BL; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Dev Psychobiol ; 64(3): e22253, 2022 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2236518
ABSTRACT
The current study investigated the impacts of parental behaviors (threat communication and comforting) on children's COVID-19 fears and whether effects differed by age. Caregivers of 283 children (5.5-17 years, M = 10.17, SD = 3.25) from 186 families completed online measures assessing children's and parents' COVID-19-related fears, children's sources of COVID-19 threat information, and parents' engagement in behaviors to reduce child distress (i.e., comfort behaviors). Higher COVID-19 fear in parents was associated with greater communication of COVID-19 threat information, which was associated with higher COVID-19 fear in younger, but not older, children. Over and above parental fear and threat communication, greater exposure to COVID-19 threat information from community sources (e.g., media, school, friends) was associated with greater COVID-19 fear in children, regardless of age. Greater engagement of parental comfort behaviors buffered the association between community sources of COVID-19 threat information and COVID-19 fears in older, but not younger, children. These findings suggest that younger children might be more vulnerable to developing heightened COVID-19 fears as a result of increasing sources of COVID-19 threat information in their lives. This study highlights the importance of supporting the socioemotional well-being of children and families through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Qualitative research Limits: Aged / Child / Humans Language: English Journal: Dev Psychobiol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Dev.22253

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Qualitative research Limits: Aged / Child / Humans Language: English Journal: Dev Psychobiol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Dev.22253