A symposium contains presentations and discussion by 3-4 experts on a particular topic. A discussant integrates and summarizes the papers, develops implications for policy and practice from the research, and facilitates audience discussion.

Papers listed below are included in this session.

Discussant: Chenyi Zhang
Chair: Jeremy Yorgason

Summary
The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted individuals and families across the world in numerous ways. Many families have experienced increased psychological distress due to various factors such as health concerns, employment changes, financial strain, changes in social interaction patterns, political upheaval, and uncertainty. Parents have experienced added strain in their roles. In the first paper, using a large dataset from the Census Bureau, Zhang and colleagues explore patterns of how race and ethnic differences intersect with economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second paper, Fronberg and colleagues address ways that pre-COVID-19 vulnerabilities, including financial strain, impacted parent adjustment. In the third paper, Tian and colleagues address ways that teacher support and the home learning environment were associated with parental stress during early COVID-19 quarantine in China. Dr. Chenyi Zhang of Georgia State University, who has expertise in early childhood learning and development, will be the discussant for this symposium.

Objectives

• After attending this session, participants will understand how the mental health of adults in the U.S. has been affected by financial strain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• After attending this session, participants will understand relationship and economic risk factors related parental mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• After attending this session, participants will understand how teachers and the home learning environment relate to parental stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subject Codes: COVID-19, mental health, stress
Population Codes: Nationally representative, international (non-U.S.),
Method and Approach Codes: longitudinal research, secondary data analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM)