Actor–partner association of work–family conflict and parental depressive symptoms during COVID‐19 in China: Does coparenting matter?

Abstract

Parental depressive symptoms and their related factors have not been widely examined during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Therefore, the current study examined the actor and partner associations of work–family conflict and parental depressive symptoms. Considering the new demands and challenges for families during the COVID‐19 pandemic, we further explored the moderation effect of coparenting. A cross‐sectional online survey with 985 paired fathers and mothers was conducted in Mainland China. In 11.6% of families, only mothers reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; in 10.6% families, only fathers reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; in 9.5% families, the mother and father reported mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Results of the actor–partner interdependence model showed that parental family‐to‐work conflict was negatively associated with their own depressive symptoms. The negative actor association of maternal family‐to‐work conflict and depressive symptoms was moderated by undermining coparenting. The partner effects of maternal family‐to‐work and work‐to‐family conflicts on paternal depressive symptoms were moderated by undermining coparenting. Moreover, supportive coparenting moderated the actor association of work‐to‐family conflict and the depressive symptoms of fathers. Results highlight the importance of family‐to‐work conflict and family function for parental depressive symptoms. These findings can help promote parental well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

The work-family interface and the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

“…Moreover, employees had to adapt to enforce remote work at a fast pace ( Chung et al, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2020 ; Andrade and Petiz Lousã, 2021 ; Aplin-Houtz et al, 2021 ; Barriga Medina et al, 2021 ; Carvalho et al, 2021 ; Chenji and Raghavendra, 2021 ; Čikić and Rajačić, 2021 ; Leroy et al, 2021 ; Niu et al, 2021 ; Soubelet-Fagoaga et al, 2021 ; Stefanova et al, 2021 ; Zou et al, 2021 ). Additionally, unpaid workload also increased ( Chung et al, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2020 ; Aplin-Houtz et al, 2021 ; Carvalho et al, 2021 ; Chenji and Raghavendra, 2021 ; Čikić and Rajačić, 2021 ; Kolo et al, 2021 ; Leroy et al, 2021 ; Niu et al, 2021 ; Soubelet-Fagoaga et al, 2021 ; Stefanova et al, 2021 ; Zou et al, 2021 ).…”

“…One of the parents’ main struggles was assuming the educational role during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Wang et al, 2020 ; Aplin-Houtz et al, 2021 ; Kolo et al, 2021 ). This might explain why family-to-work conflict among parents boosted depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 crisis, but not work-to-family conflict ( Zou et al, 2021 ). This hurdle was related to unavailable outside the nuclear family support ( Soubelet-Fagoaga et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The same link was not found for fathers or individuals without children ( Stefanova et al, 2021 ). Thus, the higher the negative coparenting, the higher were mothers’ family-to-work conflict and mother’s depressive symptoms ( Zou et al, 2021 ). Fathers did not perceive the same reality ( Zou et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Thus, the higher the negative coparenting, the higher were mothers’ family-to-work conflict and mother’s depressive symptoms ( Zou et al, 2021 ). Fathers did not perceive the same reality ( Zou et al, 2021 ). Mothers also noted that fathers were more involved in unpaid work regarding childcare, even though they adopted the “assistant” role or had poor performance ( Lemos et al, 2020 ; Çoban, 2021 ).…”

“…In what concerns the relationship between work-family conflict and boundary management, the absence of boundaries between work and family, combined with the increased unpaid workload, might explain why, for some people, remote work did not reduce work-family conflict ( Andrade and Petiz Lousã, 2021 ; Chenji and Raghavendra, 2021 ). The unprecedented situation, the hurdles found in segmenting work and family ( Sedaroglu, 2021 ), family-to-work boundary violations ( Sedaroglu, 2021 ), work-based intrusions on family ( Leroy et al, 2021 ), confronting family members who violated boundaries ( Sedaroglu, 2021 ), and the absence of a designated room at home to work ( Chenji and Raghavendra, 2021 ; Zou et al, 2021 ) were likewise found to be related to work-family conflict. Additionally, it is worth keeping in mind that enforced remote work was also an unprecedented situation for those who were used to working from home prior to the COVID-19 crisis because they worked remotely without having to share physical space with other family members ( Sedaroglu, 2021 ).…”