When the Bough Breaks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mental Health Symptoms in Mothers of Young Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Parents have experienced considerable challenges and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may impact their well-being. This meta-analysis sought to identify: 1) the prevalence of depression and anxiety in parents of young children (< age 5) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) sociodemographic (e.g., parent age, minority status) and methodological moderators (e.g., study quality) that explain heterogeneity among studies. A systematic search was conducted across four databases from January 1st, 2020 to March 3st, 2021. A total of 18 non-overlapping studies (9,101 participants), all focused on maternal mental health, met inclusion criteria. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted. Pooled prevalence estimates for clinically significant depression and anxiety symptoms for mothers of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic were 27.4% (95% CI: 21.5-34.3) and 43.5% (95% CI:27.5-60.9), respectively. Prevalence of clinically elevated depression and anxiety symptoms were higher in Europe and North America and among older mothers. Clinically elevated depressive symptoms were lower in studies with a higher percentage of racial and ethnic minority individuals. In comparison, clinically elevated anxiety symptoms were higher among studies of low study quality and in samples with highly educated mothers. Policies and resources targeting improvements in maternal mental health are essential.

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

“…Further, maternal mental health accounted for the effects of family income and pandemic‐related stressors on adolescent outcomes. Previous studies showed substantial increases in psychopathology in parents and youth during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Racine, Eirich, et al., 2021 ; Racine, McArthur, et al., 2021 ). The results of this study elaborate on those findings by demonstrating the effects of a family context of stress and maternal mental health on changes adolescent psychopathology, providing information about which adolescents were likely to be more vulnerable to increased psychopathology.…”

“…With regard to the COVID‐19 pandemic, there is consistent evidence of elevated mental health problems among parents (e.g., Cameron et al., 2020 ; Racine, Eirich, et al., 2021 ), and that worsening parental mental health from prior to the pandemic to several months into it was shown to co‐occur with worsening behavioral health in children (Patrick et al., 2020 ), highlighting the importance of examining concurrent and prospective relations of symptoms across parents and children. For example, changes in maternal mental health during the pandemic predicted changes in young children’s adjustment (Thompson et al., 2022 ).…”

COVID-19’s Impact on Mental Health—The Hour of Computational Aid?

“…Although the whole general population is affected, research indicates particularly elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety for vulnerable groups as in mothers [7], single parents, children, and adolescents [8], and families with a low socioeconomic status, hence, groups that were socially disadvantaged even before the COVID-19 Pandemic.…”

Toward a dimensional model of risk and protective factors influencing children's early cognitive, social, and emotional development during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…The mental health of parents with young children appears to have been particularly affected by the pandemic (Racine et al., 2022); indeed, having young children was identified as a risk factor for distress during the pandemic (Pierce et al., 2020). Although the triggers of mental distress for parents during the pandemic are diverse, and vary from family to family, commonly reported factors include fears of infection, financial and job insecurity, the demands of balancing work and childcare, disruptions to self‐care routines, and low levels of social support (Alonzo et al., 2022; Calvano et al., 2021; Cheng et al., 2021; Davidson et al., 2021; Racine et al., 2022; Russell et al., 2020).…”

“…The mental health of parents with young children appears to have been particularly affected by the pandemic (Racine et al., 2022); indeed, having young children was identified as a risk factor for distress during the pandemic (Pierce et al., 2020). Although the triggers of mental distress for parents during the pandemic are diverse, and vary from family to family, commonly reported factors include fears of infection, financial and job insecurity, the demands of balancing work and childcare, disruptions to self‐care routines, and low levels of social support (Alonzo et al., 2022; Calvano et al., 2021; Cheng et al., 2021; Davidson et al., 2021; Racine et al., 2022; Russell et al., 2020). It is well documented that parental mental health difficulties are a risk factor for early childhood difficulties with self‐regulation and related executive functions, as well as difficulties with coping with negative emotions or stressful situations, which may either manifest as a tendency to be self‐critical and anxious (i.e., internalizing difficulties) or a tendency to ‘act out’ in disruptive or aggressive ways (i.e., externalizing behavioral problems) (Carneiro et al., 2016; Power et al., 2021; Rigato et al., 2022; Ross et al., 2020; Stein et al., 2014; Sweeney & MacBeth, 2016).…”