Peer-reviewed article
Stress and parenting during the global COVID-19 pandemic
Samantha M. Brown, Jenalee R. Doom, Stephanie Lechuga-Peña, Sarah Enos Watamura, Tiffany Koppels ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how COVID-19 pandemic stressors affected parental stress and the risk of child abuse among 183 parents in the western United States. The research found that pandemic-related stressors combined with anxiety and depression increased both parental stress and child abuse potential. However, parental support and a sense of control during the pandemic were protective factors that reduced these risks. The findings suggest that supporting parents and helping them feel more in control could reduce child abuse risk during crises.
Key points
- Greater COVID-19 related stressors and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher parental perceived stress
- Receipt of financial assistance and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher child abuse potential
- Greater parental support and perceived control during the pandemic are associated with lower perceived stress and child abuse potential
- Racial and ethnic differences exist in COVID-19 related stressors but not in mental health risk, protective factors, or abuse potential
- Providing parental support and increasing perceived control are suggested as promising intervention targets
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study with a relatively small sample (N=183) from only the western United States, so results may not generalise to other regions or populations. The study measures perceived stress and abuse potential rather than actual abuse incidents.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stress and compromised parenting often place children at risk of abuse and neglect. Child maltreatment has generally been viewed as a highly individualistic problem by focusing on stressors and parenting behaviors that impact individual families. However, because of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), families across the world are experiencing a new range of stressors that threaten their health, safety, and economic well-being. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to parental perceived stress and child abuse potential. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants included parents (N = 183) with a child under the age of 18 years in the western United States. METHOD: Tests of group differences and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among demographic characteristics, COVID-19 risk factors, mental health risk factors, protective factors, parental perceived stress, and child abuse potential. RESULTS: Greater COVID-19 related stressors and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher parental perceived stress. Receipt of financial assistance and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher child abuse potential. Conversely, greater parental support and perceived control during the pandemic are associated with lower perceived stress and child abuse potential. Results also indicate racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 related stressors, but not in mental health risk, protective factors, perceived stress, or child abuse potential. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that although families experience elevated stressors from COVID-19, providing parental support and increasing perceived control may be promising intervention targets.