Clinical, financial and social impacts of COVID-19 and their associations with mental health for mothers and children experiencing adversity in Australia

Abstract

Background Australia has maintained low rates of SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) infection, due to geographic location and strict public health restrictions. However, the financial and social impacts of these restrictions can negatively affect parents’ and children’s mental health. In an existing cohort of mothers recruited for their experience of adversity, this study examined: 1) families’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions in terms of clinical exposure, financial hardship family stress, and family resilience (termed ‘COVID-19 impacts’); and 2) associations between COVID-19 impacts and maternal and child mental health. Methods Participants were mothers recruited during pregnancy (2013–14) across two Australian states (Victoria and Tasmania) for the ‘right@home’ trial. A COVID-19 survey was conducted from May-December 2020, when children were 5.9–7.2 years old. Mothers reported COVID-19 impacts, their own mental health (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales short-form) and their child’s mental health (CoRonavIruS Health and Impact Survey subscale). Associations between COVID-19 impacts and mental health were examined using regression models controlling for pre-COVID-19 characteristics. Results 319/406 (79%) mothers completed the COVID-19 survey. Only one reported having had COVID-19. Rates of self-quarantine (20%), job or income loss (27%) and family stress (e.g., difficulty managing children’s at-home learning (40%)) were high. Many mothers also reported family resilience (e.g., family found good ways of coping (49%)). COVID-19 impacts associated with poorer mental health (standardised coefficients) included self-quarantine (mother: β = 0.46, child: β = 0.46), financial hardship (mother: β = 0.27, child: β = 0.37) and family stress (mother: β = 0.49, child: β = 0.74). Family resilience was associated with better mental health (mother: β = -0.40, child: β = -0.46). Conclusions The financial and social impacts of Australia’s public health restrictions have substantially affected families experiencing adversity, and their mental health. These impacts are likely to exacerbate inequities arising from adversity. To recover from COVID-19, policy investment should include income support and universal access to family health services.

Maternal mental health mediates the effects of pandemic‐related stressors on adolescent psychopathology during COVID‐19

“…For example, changes in maternal mental health during the pandemic predicted changes in young children’s adjustment (Thompson et al., 2022 ). Further, financial deprivation and prior mental health problems in both parents and children, along with pandemic‐related stressors, were associated with poorer parent and child functioning during the pandemic (Bryson et al., 2021 ; Westrupp et al., 2021 ). This study uniquely adds to this literature by examining not only the changes in both maternal and youth mental health from pre‐pandemic to early in the pandemic, but also across several months of the pandemic.…”

Psychological and financial impacts of COVID-19-related travel measures: An international cross-sectional study

“…Of those that experienced a change in employment, 25.5% reported losing their job while separated from loved ones or awaiting immigration. This result is consistent with previous research during COVID-19 (32-34), with a study in South Africa reporting job loss rates of 30% (34) and a study on mothers and children experiencing adversity in Australia reporting 27% job and income loss (32). Previous literature suggests that experiences of employment changes and high additional expenditure can increase feelings of financial distress which in turn is likely to exacerbate psychological distress (34-36).…”

Was lockdown life worth living?

“…An existing cohort of Australian mothers based in either Victoria or Tasmania with children aged between 5.9 and 7.2 years old was surveyed between May to December 2020. Of the 319 respondents, 85 reported that they had experienced job or income loss (27%), and 83 reported that a family member had experienced job or income loss (27%) (Bryson et al 2021 , p. 8). Half of the mothers (49%) chose “often” or “almost always” in response to an item asking “how difficult at home learning has made paid work/home duties for [the] mother” ( ibid , p. 8 & Table 1).…”