A Mixed‐method Study of Individual, Couple, and Parental Functioning During the State‐regulated COVID‐19 Lockdown in Spain

Abstract

During the recent COVID‐19 outbreak in Spain, we explored the individual and relational well‐being of people confined together with their partners and/or children during the first 3 weeks of state‐regulated lockdown. Adults 18 years or older (N = 407) completed an online survey that included demographic, household, and employment information along with standardized measures of psychological distress (State‐Trait Anxiety and Beck Depression) and relationship functioning—either the Dyadic Adjustment Scale if there were no children in the household or a Basic Family Relations Evaluation Questionnaire (CERFB) measuring conjugal, parental, and coparental functions. Qualitative analyses of responses to an open‐ended question about perceived changes in couple or family dynamics during lockdown revealed nine specific themes comprising two overarching categories: relational improvement and deterioration. The overall prevalence of improvement themes (61.7%) exceeded deterioration themes (41.0%), with increased (re)connection and conflict atmosphere cited most often. Quantitative analyses found elevated levels of state anxiety but not trait anxiety or depression during lockdown. Consistent with the qualitative results, couples having no children at home reported high levels of dyadic adjustment, but with children present CERFB parental functioning exceeded conjugal functioning, a pattern sometimes associated with child triangulation into adult conflicts. Although correlates of psychological distress (e.g., unemployment, perceived economic risk) were relatively stable across subgroups, predictors of relationship functioning varied substantially with household/parental status (e.g., telecommuting and employment facilitated conjugal functioning only for couples with children).

Together Against COVID-19 Concerns: The Role of the Dyadic Coping Process for Partners’ Psychological Well-Being During the Pandemic

“…These results highlight how COVID-19 concerns significantly threaten individuals’ psychological well-being, in terms of energy, mental health, and social functioning, confirming our first hypothesis (H1). The COVID-19 situation may have induced intense feelings of concern, due to the seriousness of the health emergency, the consequent economic crisis, job instability, and uncertainty about the future ( Ferrucci et al, 2020 ; Mazza et al, 2020 ; Pagnini et al, 2020 ; Rossi et al, 2020 ), also in couples ( Günther-Bel et al, 2020 ; Panzeri et al, 2020 ; Rapelli et al, 2020 ). These concerns, likely amplified by stressors related to the virus containment measures (e.g., prolonged co-habitation, lack of formal and informal support networks, etc.…”

Parental stress during COVID-19: A brief report on the role of distance education and family resources in an Italian sample

“…Although these aspects can be disrupted in situations of distress, they may also serve as resilience factors. Indeed, positive interactions among family members, supportive relationships, and cohesion have been found to be conducive to less parenting stress and better family quality of life in the context of disasters (Günther-Bel, Vilaregut, Carratala, Torras-Garat, & Pérez-Testor, 2020 ; McDermott & Cobham, 2012 ).…”

New Parents Experienced Lower Parenting Self-Efficacy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

“…However, family well-being is influenced by many factors, some external such as social disruption by COVID-19 measures but also altered couple relationships changed due to home-office and home-schooling. Data show that in previous pandemics the couple relationships in families can also improve in some cases as both partners were able to support each other [ 9 , 14 , 15 ]. A recent study from China has already shown that parents of children hospitalized due to the pandemic had more serious mental health problems than parents of children hospitalized due to medical issues unassociated with the pandemic [ 16 ].…”