Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of parents with young children: a qualitative interview study

Abstract

Background Parents have faced unique challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including mobility constraints, isolation measures, working from home, and the closure of schools and childcare facilities. There is presently a lack of in-depth qualitative research exploring how these changes have affected parents’ mental health and wellbeing. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 29 parents of young children. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results We identified five superordinate themes affecting participant mental health and wellbeing: (1) navigation of multiple responsibilities and change inside the home; (2) disruption to home life; (3) changes to usual support networks; (4) changes in personal relationships; and (5) use of coping strategies. Participants described stress and exhaustion from navigating multiple pressures and conflicting responsibilities with home, schooling, and work, without their usual support networks and in the context of disrupted routines. Family roles and relationships were sometimes tested, however, many parents identified coping strategies that protected their wellbeing including access to outdoor space, spending time away from family, and avoiding conflict and pandemic-related media coverage. Conclusions Employers must be cognisant of the challenges that the pandemic has placed on parents, particularly women and lone parents. Flexible working arrangements and support might therefore relieve stress and increase productivity. Coping strategies identified by parents in this study could be harnessed and encouraged by employers and policymakers to promote positive wellbeing during times of stress throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Capturing the experiences of UK healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structural topic modelling analysis of 7,412 free-text survey responses

“…This has been reported previously 21,22 , as have the challenges of balancing personal and professional stressors. For example, home working was experienced positively by some, providing time to slow down and connect with family, but others reported this to have been a negative experience, with social isolation, home schooling while trying to work, and physical health impacts all issues of concern 31,32 .…”

Stay at Home Order—Psychological Stress in Children, Adolescents, and Parents during COVID-19 Quarantine—Data of the CoCo-Fakt Cohort Study, Cologne

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Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

“…Interviewers were male and female postgraduate researchers who had prior experience of conducting qualitative interviews with people experiencing physical and mental health difficulties, and vulnerable groups. Interviews followed a topic guide designed to explore the impact of the pandemic on participants’ mental health, social lives and worries for the future, the findings of which have been published [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. No formal piloting of the interview schedule took place, as it was deemed important for the study to commence as soon as possible to capture early experiences of the pandemic.…”