"Coronavirus Changed the Rules on Everything": Parent Perspectives on How the COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced Family Routines, Relationships and Technology Use in Families with Infants.

Rebecca Hood,Stephen R Zubrick,Desiree Silva,Juliana Zabatiero,Leon Straker

doi:10.3390/ijerph182312865

Abstract

This study explores how the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced family routines, relationships and technology use (smartphones and tablet computers) among families with infants. Infancy is known to be an important period for attachment security and future child development, and a time of being susceptible to changes within and outside of the family unit. A qualitative design using convenience sampling was employed. A total of 30 mothers in Perth, Western Australia participated in semi-structured interviews by audio or video call. All mothers were parents of infants aged 9 to 15 months old. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and data were analysed using thematic analysis to code and identify themes in an inductive manner. Families described staying home and stopping all external activities. Three themes relating to family interactions and wellbeing were found: enhanced family relationships; prompted reflection on family schedules; and increased parental stress. Two themes related to family device use were found: enabled connections to be maintained; and source of disrupted interactions within the family unit. Overall, participants described more advantages than downsides of device use during COVID-19. Findings will be of value in providing useful information for families, health professionals and government advisors for use during future pandemic-related restrictions.

Highlights

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic on March12, 2020 by the World Health Organisation [1]
This study aimed to extend research into how the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to the family system, family routines, relationships and technology use by parents and infants
This study is a sub-project of the ORIGINS Project. This unique long-term study, a collaboration between Telethon Kids Institute and Joondalup Health Campus, is one of the most comprehensive studies of pregnant women and their families in Australia to date, recruiting 10,000 families over a decade from the Joondalup and Wanneroo communities of Potential participants for the current study were provided with information about a study on mobile touch screen device use and attachment and with the opportunity to opt-out from any further contact

Summary

Introduction

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic on March12, 2020 by the World Health Organisation [1]. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic on March. A variety of responses have been adopted to these waves aimed at minimising public health and economic impacts, including social distancing, travel limitations and periods of restrictions (‘lockdown’) which typically require people to stay at home with exceptions for purchasing essential supplies, attending medical appointments, exercise and essential work. The pandemic and its associated restrictions have been linked with social isolation, psychological distress and post-traumatic stress symptoms [2,3,4,5,6]. A US national study of parents with children aged under 18 years found that almost a third of parents reported a decline in mental health for themselves, and 14%. A negative impact of the pandemic on physical activity [8,9], sleep quality [10] and eating

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