Summary
Children and their parents experienced extensive levels of ambiguous loss under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are guided by the theory of ambiguous loss (Boss, 2016), we aimed to understand whether and how parents discussed the pandemic, whether and how parents discussed or would discuss death in the context of pandemic, and what parents have done to cope with ambiguous loss and family death. We interviewed 20 parents of young children (ages 4-7) about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings revealed that parents aimed for a balance between protecting children from stress and trauma and socializing their children to protect themselves and to care for others. Such balance was influenced by factors including parents’ considerations of child age, and the resources that were available to them. Findings will help inform practitioners while working with parents to cope with ambiguous loss due to the pandemic.

Objectives

• To explore whether and how parents discussed the pandemic with young children
• To investigate whether and how parents discussed death with young children in the pandemic context
• To examine strategies parents used to explain and cope with ambiguous loss and death

Subject Codes: COVID-19
Population Codes: early childhood
Method and Approach Codes: grounded theory

Summary
Abstract:Co-Parents are uniquely challenged in navigating the changes associated with stress following divorce. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hypothesized that the co-parenting relationship will be negatively affected due to the increased number of stressors. Quantitative data was collected from 556 divorced parents regarding how they experienced and managed their role as a co-parent before and during the pandemic. Significant differences were found across multiple domains of co-parenting but not in conflict management. Focus group data were also collected from a subsample to support the quantitative findings. Discussion and implications for managing co-parenting stress during the pandemic are discussed.

Objectives

• Participants will learn about what dynamics of co-parenting changed from before and during COVID-19.
• Participants will understand parents supporting evidence for key domains of co-parenting changes due to COVID-19.
• Participants will identify opportunities for programatic development in co-parenting education based on research observations.

Subject Codes: COVID-19, coparenting, parenting education
Population Codes: divorced, ,
Method and Approach Codes: mixed-methodology, ,

Summary
This study aimed to examine the mediating role of marital conflict in the relationship between parents’ COVID-19 stress and positive/negative parenting behaviors using a South Korean parent sample. The moderating role of social capital in the relationships among the variables was also examined. Due to COVID-19, the amount of time with families has increased due to increased rates of working from home and provision of care for children at home. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the relationships among stress caused by COVID-19, marital conflict, and parenting behaviors. This study provides important insights on current South Korean families with preschool-age children in that it reveals the significant indirect effect of COVID-19 stress on both positive and negative parenting through marital conflict. The significant moderating role of social capital in the relationship between marital conflict and positive/negative parenting behaviors also needs to be emphasized.

Objectives

• Is parents’ COVID-19 stress associated with positive/negative parenting?
• Does marital conflict play a mediating role between parents’ COVID-19 stress and positive/negative parenting?
• Does social capital moderate the relationships between COVID-19 stress, marital conflict, and positive/negative parenting? (moderated mediation model)

Subject Codes: COVID-19, caregiving, communities
Population Codes: early childhood, Asian/Pacific Islander, international (non-U.S.)
Method and Approach Codes: mediation/indirect effects models, quantitative methodology, regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical)

Summary
The current study presents research examining how COVID-19 has impacted parents to contribute to the limited research focused on how resilience in the form of post-traumatic growth may emerge from adverse experiences related to the pandemic. During the fast and extensive spread of the pandemic, parents were exposed to challenges as parents, workers, and citizens around the globe (Walton, 2020). In this analysis, we are using data from a short-term longitudinal national study that included an online survey of parents (N=108) with 2-4 years-old children. The purpose of this analysis is to explore how parents exposed to COVID-19 risks can experience a post-traumatic growth process, such as greater appreciation of life. The study will investigate if interconnected systems of support help to buffer that relationship and results will inform addressing the needs and strengths of families during the pandemic as they try to reintegrate into the changed world.

Objectives

• 1. To learn if these unexpected life events might be part of a transformation process called post-traumatic growth where individuals emerge from trauma, adversity or challenges having a positive personal growth (Walton, 2020).
• 2. To explore how interconnected systems of support might buffer the relationship between risks and post-traumatic growth (Tamiolaki & Kalaitzaki 2020).
• 3. To present relevant research to investigate a potential resilient outcome related to a positive reevaluation of life after being exposed to unexpected risks or challenges related to COVID-19.

Subject Codes: COVID-19, adversity, parenting
Population Codes: early childhood, U.S., middle income
Method and Approach Codes: research, general, resilience, quantitative methodology

Summary
The family stress model is a well-established framework that examines the effects of financial hardship on family relationships (Conger et al., 2002). The burden of economic strain may impact parent’s mental health, as well as undermine parent-child relationships. Although research shows the effects of economic strain on the family, more work needs to be done to show the effects of economic strain on parenting during the Coronavirus pandemic. Parents have been impacted by financial adjustments, caregiving changes, unexpected illness, and social isolation, leaving households in tumult (Prime et al., 2020; Brown et al., 2020). Thus, we apply the family stress model to examine the relationship between economic strain and harsh parenting of young children accounting for parenting stress among an online sample (N= 136) of parents with young children. The results will inform programs designed to support parents experiencing economic strain in the context of stressful macro-level events.

Objectives

• 1. To apply the family stress model to understand family risks for parents with young children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2. To analyze associations among economic strain and harsh parenting during the pandemic.
• 3. To analyze the effect of parenting stress on family well-being during the pandemic.

Subject Codes: COVID-19, parenting, stress
Population Codes: early childhood, U.S., middle income
Method and Approach Codes: research, general, mediation/indirect effects models, quantitative methodology

Summary
The aim of the current study is to examine how infant sleep at 16-weeks old and its associations with maternal pandemic-related stress and sleep problems are related to infant sleep during the pandemic. Participants included 23 caregivers of infants from a high-risk community sample that completed the Infant Sleep Questionnaire when their infant was 16 weeks old and again in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Epidemic – Pandemic Impact Inventoryto measure pandemic-related stress and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to measure maternal sleep difficulties. There were significant main effects of infant 16-week sleep, maternal pandemic-related stress, and maternal sleep problems predicting COVID-19 infant sleep, such that as maternal and infant sleep problems and pandemic-related stress were high, COVID-19 infant sleep problems were also high.The current study found that 16-week infant sleep, maternal pandemic stress, and maternal sleep problems predicted COVID-19 infant sleep problems.

Objectives

• To examine how infant sleep has changed during COVID-19 compared to infant sleep at 16-weeks old
• To examine preliminary impacts of COVID-19 on infant and maternal sleep patterns
• To examine the relationship between maternal pandemic-related stress and maternal-infant sleep patterns

Subject Codes: COVID-19, stress, sleep
Population Codes: prenatal or infants, middle adulthood, diverse but not representative
Method and Approach Codes: regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical), quantitative methodology, research, general

Summary
We examine levels of parent-reported anxiety in children and self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in children and their parents in six Arabian Gulf countries, Qatar (n=2318), Bahrain (n=1875), Oman (n= 2476), Kuwait (n=2042), Saudi Arabia (n=3381), and UAE (n=2749). Associations of indices of parent psychological functioning to child anxiety, controlling for the potentially confounding factors of child age and parental health status, are also examined. Drawing from an international project on the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on family life across culture, conducted in 72 countries , the data used here draw on 14,841 parents of children under 18. We find that COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant psychosocial impact on parents and children. Findings of current levels of depression, anxiety and stress highlight the need to address emotional distress for parents and children during the pandemic and provide policy-makers and practitioners with evidence to design targeted interventions.

Objectives

• To analyze levels of parent-reported anxiety in children in six Arabian Gulf countries
• To examine self-reported levels of parental depression, anxiety, and stress in children and their parents in six Arabian Gulf countries
• To examine the associations of indices of parent psychological functioning to child anxiety, controlling for the potentially confounding factors of child age and parental health status

Subject Codes: COVID-19, depression, anxiety
Population Codes: Family Scientists, couples/coupled, middle childhood
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology, regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical), regression: logistic (binary, ordinal, or multinomial)

Summary
Emerging evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in mental health problems and distress, and those who report more isolation are particularly at risk. The current study draws from the stress and coping theoretical model to examine how pre-pandemic loneliness is associated with parenting stress during the COVID-19 pandemic using a longitudinal clinic-based cohort of mothers of young children. Results of multiple linear regression anlayses suggest that mothers of young children who were socially isolated before the start of the pandemic may be more sensitive to the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their parenting stress.

Objectives

• To examine the role of social isolation on parenting stress during the pandemic.
• To examine how economic, health, and caregiving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with parenting stress.
• To discuss strategies to help mothers of young children to cope with pandemic stressors.

Subject Codes: caregiving, COVID-19, parent-child relationships
Population Codes: biological parent, diverse but not representative, early childhood
Method and Approach Codes: longitudinal research, regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical), quantitative methodology

Summary
Guided by family systems theory (Cox & Paley, 1997, 2010), the current study sought to explore mothers’ concerns, childbearing decision making, and factors that influence firstborn’s empathy in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Starting 2016, Chinese married couples are allowed to have up to two children in urban China. Empirical research is still lacking in investigating mothers’ concerns and childbearing decision making, especially when facing external stress such as in the context of the pandemic. Additionally, firstborn empathy may benefit sibling relationship and therefore it is important to understand what family factors contribute to firstborn empathy. Mothers (N =111) reported their top concerns, childbearing decision-making, family level factors and firstborn empathy. Understanding pregnant mothers’ concerns, childbearing decision-making and family level factors that contribute to firstborn empathy can help policy makers and practitioners while working with families whose firstborns transition to siblinghood and provide support and resources accordingly.

Objectives

• To explore pregnant mothers’ concerns in the context of COVID-9 pandemic
• To investigate mothers’ childbearing decision making for having the firstborn versus the secondborn
• To examine the associations among family level factors, parenting, and firstborns’ empathy

Subject Codes: caregiving, 
Population Codes: international (non-U.S.), 
Method and Approach Codes: path analysis,