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Karantzas GC, Toumbourou JW, Knox L, Greenwood CC, Westrupp EM. Predicting the Trajectories of Parents' Relationship Well-Being During COVID-19 Lockdowns and Beyond: a Vulnerability, Stress and Adaptation Model Perspective. Prev Sci 2024; 25:213-229. [PMID: 36976437 PMCID: PMC10043525 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-023-01498-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Strict lockdowns have been employed by many of the world's nations as a public health response to COVID-19. However, concerns have been expressed as to how such public health responses disturb the human ecosystem. In this paper, we report on findings from a longitudinal study of Australian parents in which we investigated how state differences in government-mandated lockdowns affect the relationship well-being (i.e., relationship satisfaction and loneliness) of parents. We situated the study of the relational effects of strict lockdowns within the Vulnerability Stress Adaptation Model (VSAM, Karney & Bradbury, 1995) that considers the role of parents' pre-existing vulnerabilities (i.e., psychological distress and attachment insecurity), life stressors (pre-pandemic and COVID-19 stressors), and adaptive relationship processes (constructive communication and perceived partner support). A total of 1942 parents completed 14 waves of assessments of relationship satisfaction and loneliness over a 13.5-month period as well as baseline assessments of personal vulnerabilities, life stressors, and adaptive relationship processes. Parents with high relationship adaptations and low vulnerabilities evidenced the highest relationship well-being (i.e., high satisfaction and low loneliness) during changes in lockdown restrictions, while parents with moderate relationship adaptations and vulnerabilities experienced the poorest well-being. Differences in state lockdown restrictions (i.e., Victoria [long and strict lockdown policy] vs all other states) were associated with differences in relationship well-being for parents with high relationship adaptations. Specifically, Victorian parents experienced significant declines in relationship well-being compared to non-Victorian parents. Our findings provide novel insights into how government-mandated social restrictions can disrupt the relational ecology of parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gery C Karantzas
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, VIC, Geelong, 3220, Australia.
| | - John W Toumbourou
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, VIC, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Laura Knox
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, VIC, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Christopher C Greenwood
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, VIC, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Elizabeth M Westrupp
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, VIC, Geelong, 3220, Australia
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