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Pandemic-Related Social Disruption and Well-Being in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Diseases
Abigail S Robbertz1, Lindsey L Cohen1, Lisa P Armistead1
1Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, USA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic caused social disruption, negatively impacting children with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. A strong parent-child relationship helped buffer these effects on well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread effects, but its impact on children with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions is not well-documented.
- Understanding pandemic-related social disruption (PRSD) is crucial for this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess PRSD in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease (CD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- To investigate the moderating effect of the parent-child relationship on the well-being of these children during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to 146 children (ages 8-17) with IBD, CD, or IBS and 185 parents between September and December 2020.
- The survey collected data on PRSD factors (financial stability, COVID-19 exposure, school changes, GI needs, isolation) and social-emotional well-being.
- Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, examining the influence of social disruption and the parent-child relationship.
Main Results:
- Increased social disruption was significantly associated with poorer parent well-being (β = 0.24, p = .02) and child well-being (β = 0.38, p < .01).
- The parent-child relationship moderated the impact of social disruption on well-being (β = 0.21, p = .03).
- Strong parent-child relationships were linked to positive parent and child well-being (β = 0.23, p = .003), while medium or poor relationships were not significant.
Conclusions:
- Pandemic-related social disruption adversely affected the well-being of children with GI conditions.
- A strong parent-child relationship plays a vital role in mitigating the negative mental health impacts of the pandemic on these children.
- Findings are pertinent for pediatric psychologists and healthcare providers supporting the physical and mental health of children with GI conditions and their families.
Objective:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted everyone, but there are few data regarding how the pandemic has influenced the lives of children with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. This cross-sectional study assessed pandemic-related social disruption (PRSD) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease (CD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the potential buffering effect of the parent-child relationship.
Methods:
A survey completed between September and December 2020 asked 146 children (ages 8-17) diagnosed with IBD (n = 44), CD (n = 81), or IBS (n = 51) and 185 parents how the pandemic has contributed to social disruption (i.e., financial stability, COVID-19 exposure, school changes, GI needs, and isolation) and their social-emotional well-being. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the role of social disruption on well-being, and the moderating effect of the parent-child relationship.
Results:
Increased social disruption predicted worse parent, β = 0.24, p = .02, and child well-being, β = 0.38, p < .01. The parent-child relationship moderated the relationship between parent and child well-being, β = 0.21, p = .03. Strong parent-child relationships predicted a positive association between parent and child well-being, β = 0.23, p = .003, whereas medium, β = 0.09, p = .14, and poor, β = -0.06, p = .52, relationships did not.
Conclusions:
PRSD negatively impacted the well-being of children with GI conditions, and the parent-child relationship moderated this relationship. These findings are relevant to pediatric psychologists treating the physical and mental health needs of children with GI conditions and their parents.
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