Pre-pandemic individual and household predictors of caregiver and child COVID-19-related stress in a high-risk sample
Background: Many families experienced increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and families recently investigated for child maltreatment may have been at particularly high risk. However, little research has focused on pre-pandemic individual and household predictors of COVID-19-related stress a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Child Protection and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000469 |
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| Summary: | Background: Many families experienced increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and families recently investigated for child maltreatment may have been at particularly high risk. However, little research has focused on pre-pandemic individual and household predictors of COVID-19-related stress among such families who may have been especially vulnerable to the pandemic. Objective: The present study prospectively examined pre-pandemic predictors of caregiver and child COVID-19-related stress in a sample of caregivers and children investigated for child maltreatment prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Participants included children (N = 285), ages 8–13, and their caregivers (N = 246) investigated for child maltreatment prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Multiple linear regression models were run to separately predict caregiver and child COVID-19-related stress from pre-pandemic household chaos, caregiver and child emotion regulation, caregiver psychological distress, and sociodemographic characteristics. Findings: Black caregivers and children reported significantly more COVID-19-related stress than White caregivers and children (b = 2.27, p = 0.006 and b = 1.70, p = 0.013, respectively). Hispanic children reported more COVID-19-related stress than non-Hispanic children (b = 2.12, p < 0.001). Caregivers' pre-pandemic psychological distress also predicted their children's COVID-19-related stress (b = 1.80, p = 0.001). Household dysfunction and child and caregiver emotion regulation were unrelated to subsequent COVID-19-related stress (ps > 0.05). Conclusions: There is a need to support minority families and address mental health concerns to prevent disparate outcomes in the face of stressors. |
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| ISSN: | 2950-1938 |