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Parents' Perceptions of Children's Behavioral Difficulties and the Parent-Child Interaction During the COVID-19

Avital Laufer1, Mally Shechory Bitton2

  • 1Netanya Academic College, Netanya, Israel.

Journal of Family Issues
|February 23, 2023
PubMed

Insights

During the COVID-19 lockdown, parents perceived increased child behavioral difficulties (CBD) but also enhanced positive parent-child interaction (PCI). Parental distress significantly impacted perceived CBD, while resilience buffered its effect on PCI.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Sociology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns presented unprecedented challenges to families worldwide.
  • Understanding the impact on children's behavioral difficulties (CBD) and parent-child interactions (PCI) is crucial for mental health support.
  • Parental psychological distress, coping mechanisms, and resilience are key factors influencing family dynamics during crises.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine parents' perceptions of CBD and PCI during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Israel.
  • To investigate the associations between parental psychological distress, COVID-19 worries, coping strategies, and resilience.
  • To identify mediating roles of coping and resilience in the relationship between parental distress and child outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 437 parents of minor children in Israel.
  • Data collected on perceived children's behavioral difficulties (CBD), positive parent-child interaction (PCI), parental psychological distress, COVID-19 worries, coping styles, and resilience.
  • Statistical analyses used to explore associations and mediation effects.

Main Results:

  • Parents reported higher levels of CBD and increased quality time in PCI during the lockdown.
  • Parental psychological distress and COVID-19 worries were positively correlated with CBD.
  • Emotion-focused coping mediated the link between distress and CBD; resilience mediated the link between distress and PCI.

Conclusions:

  • Despite increased perceived child difficulties, parents also experienced enhanced positive parent-child interactions during the lockdown.
  • Parental distress is a significant factor in perceived child behavioral difficulties.
  • Resilience and emotion-focused coping play vital roles in mitigating negative impacts and fostering positive interactions.

Keywords:
COVID-19Parentsmental healthresiliencestress

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