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Juras MM, Coelho ACF, Vázquez AL, Ribeiro M, Kohlsdorf M, Custódio AL, Amador Buenabad NG, Perez LV, Hooley C, Barnett ML, Baumann AA. Parenting practices and interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: an exploratory cross-sectional study of caregivers in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. PSICOLOGIA-REFLEXAO E CRITICA 2024; 37:12. [PMID: 38583110 PMCID: PMC10999397 DOI: 10.1186/s41155-024-00295-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic led countries' governments to rapidly establish lockdowns and social distancing, which altered family routines and the quality of family relationships worldwide. OBJECTIVES This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to identify the impacts of the social distancing and lockdown in parenting practices of caregivers from Brazil, Mexico, and the USA, and to analyze the continuity of parenting intervention support for children and their families at the beginning of the pandemic in these countries. METHODS The sample consisted of 704 caregivers of children (286 from Brazil, 225 from Mexico, and 193 from the USA) who answered an online survey about parenting practices before/after quarantine, caregiver/child routines, feelings related to quarantine, changes in everyday life since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact with health professionals, and sources of parenting information. RESULTS Data indicate that caregivers from the three countries experienced similar parenting practices during this time, and did not report significant changes before and after the lockdown. They sought information about parenting predominantly via social media. Those receiving previous mental health care perceived the transition from in-person to telehealth services during the pandemic as feasible and acceptable. CONCLUSION This study will be helpful for clinicians and parents to contextualize their practices amid long-standing effects that the COVID-19 pandemic can have on children and their families during and post-pandemic from multiple cultural backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucia Vazquez Perez
- National Institute of Psychiatry Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Huntsville, Mexico
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Santos IS, Tovo-Rodrigues L, Maruyama JM, Barros AJD, Bierhals I, Del Ponte B, Matijasevich A. Impact of covid-19 pandemic over depressive symptoms among mothers from a population-based birth cohort in southern brazil. Arch Womens Ment Health 2023:10.1007/s00737-023-01331-2. [PMID: 37225910 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-023-01331-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Our aim was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on depressive symptoms among mothers from a population-based birth cohort in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. METHODS A subgroup of mothers from the Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort was assessed pre-pandemic (November,2019 to March,2020) and mid-pandemic (August-December,2021). In both follow-ups, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Pre-pandemic (T1) and pandemic-related predictors (T2) were analyzed. Prevalence of depression (EPDS score ≥ 13) at T1 and T2 were compared with chi-square test. Changes in EPDS from T1 to T2 were estimated by multivariate latent change score modelling. RESULTS 1,550 women were assessed. Prevalence of depression increased 38.1% (from 18.9% at T1 to 26.1% at T2) (p < 0.001). At T1, higher schooling, higher family income and being employed or working were related to lower EPDS, whereas being beneficiary of a cash transfer program and a larger number of people living in the household predicted higher EPDS. The deterioration of ones' own perception of quality of overall health (β = 0.191; SE = 0.028; p < 0.001) and worst family financial situation due to the pandemic (β = 0.083; SE = 0.024; p = 0.001) predicted the increase in EPDS from T1 to T2. CONCLUSION Almost two years after the beginning of the pandemic, the prevalence of depressive symptoms among the women was higher than before the pandemic. The deterioration of ones' own perception of quality of overall health and worst family financial situation due to the pandemic are proxies for the effect of COVID-19 pandemic (the true exposure of interest) in the women mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iná S Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3º Piso, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96020-220, Brazil.
| | - Luciana Tovo-Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3º Piso, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Jessica M Maruyama
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aluísio J D Barros
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3º Piso, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Isabel Bierhals
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3º Piso, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Bianca Del Ponte
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3º Piso, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96020-220, Brazil
| | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Pudpong N, Julchoo S, Sinam P, Uansri S, Kunpeuk W, Suphanchaimat R. Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression among Parents of Primary School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand, 2022. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20095622. [PMID: 37174142 PMCID: PMC10178323 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
One significant concern during the COVID-19 pandemic is parents' mental health, which may consequently affect children's health and well-being. The objective of this study is to investigate generalized anxiety and depression in parents of primary-school-aged children and identify risk factors for mental health problems. A cross-sectional survey comprising 701 parents of primary school children in five of Thailand's major provinces was carried out from January to March 2022. Generalized anxiety and depression levels were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9. Logistic regression was performed to determine the effects of independent variables on anxiety and depression. Results showed that the prevalence of generalized anxiety and depression was 42.7% and 28.5%, respectively, among Thai parents. Three strong associative factors included: (1) having a youngest child with mental health problems; (2) not assisting their children every day; and (3) drinking alcohol. These findings show that the parents must deal with several difficulties when trying to maintain work and parenting duties while being confined at home during emergency situations. The government should provide sufficient assistance to parents who lack skills in handling children with emotional and behavioral problems. Meanwhile, health promotion to reduce alcohol consumption should continue to be an area of focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nareerut Pudpong
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Sataporn Julchoo
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Pigunkaew Sinam
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Sonvanee Uansri
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Watinee Kunpeuk
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Rapeepong Suphanchaimat
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
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Kurz D, Braig S, Genuneit J, Rothenbacher D. Trajectories of child mental health, physical activity and screen-time during the COVID-19 pandemic considering different family situations: results from a longitudinal birth cohort. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17:36. [PMID: 36899392 PMCID: PMC9999332 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-023-00581-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many authors have described a significant mental health burden on children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly moderated by social disparities. This analysis explores whether pre-pandemic family circumstances might be related to different aspects of child health during the pandemic. METHODS We analyzed trajectories of health-related outcomes in children aged 5 to 9 years (T7 to T11) using the Ulm SPATZ Health study, a population based birth cohort study (baseline 04/2012-05/2013) conducted in the South of Germany. Outcomes were children's mental health, quality of life, and lifestyle, such as screen time and physical activity. We conducted descriptive statistics of maternal and child characteristics before and throughout the pandemic. We defined three different groups of pre-pandemic family situations and used adjusted mixed models to estimate differences in means associated with the time during the pandemic vs. before the pandemic in (a) all children and in (b) children belonging to specific pre-pandemic family situations. RESULTS We analyzed data from n = 588 children from whom at least one questionnaire was completed between T7 and T11. When not considering the pre-pandemic family situation, adjusted mixed models showed statistically significant lower mean scores of health-related quality of life among girls during vs. before the COVID-19 pandemic (difference in means (b): - 3.9 (95% confidence interval (CI): - 6.4, - 1.4). There were no substantial differences in mental health, screen time, or physical activity in boys or girls. When considering pre-pandemic family situations, boys with mothers having symptoms of depression or anxiety showed a substantial loss of health-related quality of life on the subscale of friends (b: - 10.5 (95% CI: - 19.7, - 1.4)). Among girls in this group, 60% of the 15 assessed outcomes were negatively associated with a remarkable loss in health-related quality of life (e.g., KINDL-physical well-being difference in means: - 12.2 (95% CI: - 18.9, - 5.4)). Furthermore, a substantial increase in screen time was found (+ 2.9 h (95% CI: 0.3, 5.6)). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the health (and behavior) of primary school-aged children is possibly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with adverse consequences differing by gender and very likely by the pre-pandemic family situation. Especially in girls having a mother with depression or anxiety symptoms, the adverse consequences of the pandemic on mental health seem to be aggregated. Boys showed fewer adverse trajectories, and it needs to be further assessed which factors exactly are behind the (socio-economic) factors, such as maternal working habits and limited living space, when analyzing the effect of the pandemic on children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Kurz
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Stefanie Braig
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jon Genuneit
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany.,Pediatric Epidemiology, Clinic and Polyclinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Liebigstraße 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dietrich Rothenbacher
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany
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Pudpong N, Julchoo S, Sinam P, Uansri S, Kunpeuk W, Suphanchaimat R. Family Health among Families with Primary School Children during the COVID Pandemic in Thailand, 2022. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15001. [PMID: 36429719 PMCID: PMC9690226 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite evidence suggesting that the COVID pandemic has negatively affected the mental health and well-being of school aged children and parents, there are limited studies describing the state of family well-being. This study aimed to use the family health lens to assess the well-being of Thai families with primary school children and to identify its associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during January and March 2022, a period of school closure when onsite education was replaced by online education from time to time. The family health scale (FHS) questionnaire survey was carried out among 701 parents of Thai families with primary school children. The questionnaire comprised 10 questions regarding family belief, health, relationships, financial security, and housing environment. Independent variables included: (1) parental/household factors; (2) online learning related issues; (3) children's mental health; and (4) parents' health behaviors. Multinomial logistic regression was undertaken. Results showed that half of Thai families (54.6%) reported having moderate health status. Factors that were associated with lower levels of family health, such as poor or moderate levels, included families with a child that had mental health problems (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 5.0 [95% CI = 2.6-9.5] for poor v. excellent, and AOR = 2.7 [95% CI = 1.9-4.0] for moderate v. excellent), single parents (AOR = 2.5 [95% CI = 1.2-5.2] for poor v. excellent), a higher number (≥3) of children (AOR = 2.1 [95% CI = 1.0-4.0] for moderate v. excellent), and smoking parents (AOR = 6.5 [95% CI =1.2-34.8] for poor v. excellent). During health emergencies, health policy for providing adequate assistance to single parents, especially those that have a child with mental health problems, is of utmost importance. The design of health promotion activities and interventions should be targeted not only at single families, but also families with higher numbers of children and parents who smoke at home.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sataporn Julchoo
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Pigunkaew Sinam
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Sonvanee Uansri
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Watinee Kunpeuk
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
| | - Rapeepong Suphanchaimat
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
- Department of Disease Control, Division of Epidemiology, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
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Lafarge C, Milani R, Cahill S, Görzig A. 2020 COVID-19-Related Lockdown: the Relationships Between Coping Strategies, Psychological Adjustment and Resilience Among a Non-clinical Sample of British Adults. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2022; 3:297-307. [PMCID: PMC9584239 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-022-00079-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
To curb COVID-19 infections, the British government enforced a series of lockdowns resulting in restrictions on movement and socialisation. This study assessed which groups may have been at higher risk of emotional distress among a non-clinical sample of British adults. It also examined which coping strategies, if any, related to more positive psychological adjustment and higher resilience scores. A cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out. Using a convenience sample, an online survey was conducted in April–June 2020. One hundred ninety-four participants completed the Brief COPE (coping), the GAD-7 (anxiety), the PHQ-9 (depression), the CD-RISC (resilience), and provided demographic information. Participants used mainly coping strategies considered to be adaptive. They exhibited mild/moderate anxiety and depression symptoms, and moderate resilience scores. However, some individuals displayed significantly higher distress symptoms and lower resilience scores than others, especially those aged under 35 (particularly 18–24), those not working, those who were single and/or childless. Results also show that coping strategies including substance use, behavioural disengagement and self-blame were associated with anxiety and/or depression symptoms, conversely, positive reframing related to lower anxiety symptomatology. Interventions promoting positive reframing may be helpful. Similarly, interventions promoting connection to others, a factor known to enhance resilience, may be beneficial. This is particularly relevant to groups who may be more at risk of psychological distress, such as young individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Lafarge
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London, TW8 9GA UK
| | - Raffaella Milani
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London, TW8 9GA UK
| | - Sharon Cahill
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London, TW8 9GA UK
| | - Anke Görzig
- Psychology and Counselling, School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LS UK
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