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Published on: June 13, 2021
Role of maternal emotion in child maltreatment risk during the COVID-19 pandemic
Christina M Rodriguez1,2, Shawna J Lee2
1Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, 35294 Birmingham, AL United States.
Insights
Maternal anger and worry about child behavior increased child maltreatment risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emotions, particularly anger, were linked to neglect, physical, and psychological aggression, highlighting the need for interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Early COVID-19 research indicated a rise in child maltreatment risk.
- Parental mental health and economic strains during the pandemic likely impacted parent-child interactions.
- Parental emotional responses to child behavior may be key factors in maltreatment risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal worry and anger regarding child behavior and child maltreatment risk.
- To examine the association with neglect, physical aggression, and psychological aggression.
- To understand affective elements contributing to elevated maltreatment risk during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A racially diverse sample of 193 mothers participated in an online survey.
- Data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in late September-early October 2020.
- Mothers reported on neglect and aggression, and their emotional states were assessed.
Main Results:
- Increased neglect and aggression were significantly related to maltreatment risk indicators.
- Maternal anger and worry about child behavior, and their interaction, predicted physical aggression and neglect risk.
- Maternal anger specifically correlated with increased psychological aggression risk.
Conclusions:
- Maternal worry and anger concerning child behavior may intensify maltreatment risk under pandemic-related stress.
- Affective reactions, including worry and anger focused on child behavior, require further research and intervention focus.
- Findings are relevant for pandemic and post-pandemic intervention strategies for child maltreatment prevention.
Purpose:
Preliminary research early in the COVID-19 pandemic suggested children appeared to be at increased risk for child maltreatment, particularly as parents struggled with mental health and economic strains. Such strains were likely to influence parental emotions about their children, affecting their parent-child interactions to contribute to elevated maltreatment risk. To identify the potential affective elements that may contribute to such increased maltreatment risk, the current study focused on whether maternal worry about children's behavior specifically as well as maternal anger were related to increased risk for neglect or physical or psychological aggression six months into the pandemic.
Method:
The racially diverse sample included 193 mothers who completed an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in late September-early October 2020.
Results:
Mothers' reported increases in neglect and physical and psychological aggression during the pandemic were significantly related with established measures of maltreatment risk. Furthermore, path models indicated that maternal anger and worry about children's behavior, as well as their interaction, were significantly related to indicators of physical aggression risk and neglect during the pandemic, but only maternal anger related to increased psychological aggression during the pandemic.
Conclusions:
Maternal worry and anger about children's behavior may have exacerbated risk for maltreatment under the stressful conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest affective reactions of both parental worry and anger focused on child behavior warrants greater empirical attention and consideration in intervention efforts both during the pandemic and potentially post-pandemic.
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Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...