Young people with conduct problems (CPs) have been detrimentally impacted by Covid-19 restrictions, with increased behaviour problems and internalising symptoms. Parents experienced increased strain, managing their child’s behaviours through lockdowns, while support services have been reduced. The present qualitative study aims to explore the deeper parental experience of caring for an adolescent child with CPs during the Covid-19 period. Participants were purposively recruited through a social media support forum. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 14 parents of children with CPs (13 mothers and one father) between June-December 2021. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis revealed four main themes; Experiencing Positive Changes in Children, Navigating Practicalities of Home Confinement, Parents at “Breaking Point”, and Methods of Survival. Parents observed increased behavioural problems in their children, and expressed great strain and fatigue in relation to their child’s expression. Overall, parents felt isolated, confused, and burnt out, feeling they have no support to turn to. These issues appear to expand beyond the pandemic, highlighting an imperative need to provide more social, practical, and psychoeducational support for these parents whose voices are currently going unheard. These should be more robust and tailored to this unique population, with suggested services including peer social networks or parental hubs, more proficient and targeted psychoeducation, crisis interventions, and a greater capacity for parental respite.
Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly changed family dynamics and parents experience greater psychological distress. Conduct problems in young people have increased by 35%. However, it is not known how Covid-19 associated stresses have affected parenting practice, conduct problems, and comorbidities and what additional support is needed for families at risk. Objectives This study uses self-report measures and semi-structured interviews to examine and explore the impact of Covid-19 on the families of young people with conduct problems and comorbid mental health conditions. Methods This is a sequential mixed-methods study. Eligible families with children aged between 11-18 years have participated. One-hundred-and-eighty-two families have completed eight online questionnaires and 12 have participated in semi-structured follow-up interviews. Results Analyses indicate that parental harshness, warmth, educational background, and employment have a significant impact on Covid-19 exposure and worries, as well as significantly higher scores of conduct disorder symptoms. Interview codes reveal that young peoples’ behaviour became more severe during the pandemic, and this was associated with reduced in-person support services, reduced personal space at home, and parents taking on the additional role of educator. Conclusions The findings suggest that Covid-19 is a significant risk factor to young people with conduct problems and their families. For example, reduced parental warmth and increased parental harshness increased conduct problems for young people during the lockdown. This study highlights that policies and services should work to better support such families. Future online psychosocial interventions are needed to empower families and improve parenting practice at home during the lockdown period and in general. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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