Stress and Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychosocial Impact on Children

The literature on the mental health consequences of public health emergencies, especially for children from developing countries, is sparse and has become available only very recently. Understanding the uncertainties and emotional upheavals experienced by parents and their association with the mental health of children would enable the clinicians to design culturally sensitive intervention programs. The study examined the relationship between parenting stress and emotional and behavioral problems among Indian children during COVID-19 times. A total of 199 parents (Mothers = 72.8%) responded to an online survey that assessed parenting stress [1], positive and negative emotions [2], and emotional and behavioral problems of children [3]. The project was cleared by the ethics committee of the institute. The mean age was 10.1 y (SD = 4.40) and the Male is to Female ratio was 1.11:1. Parents reported significantly higher parenting stress (F = 24.88, P = 0.0001), higher negative affect (F = 11.58, P = 0.0001), and lower positive affect (F = 13.19, P = 0.0001) when their children’s score on the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was in the abnormal range. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 35.7% of the variance in the total SDQ scores was accounted by total parenting stress, negative affect, and positive affect (F = 37.70, P = 0.0001).

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