Parents and Children Facing the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak imposes to Italian families many changes in their daily life. Mainly, school and other educational services are closed, and everyone, particularly children, is banned to leave homes. The present study aimed to explore the effect of risk factors associated with the pandemic experience on parents and children well-being. Methods: Parents of 2 to14 years old children completed an on-line survey reporting their home environment condition, the contact they had with the pandemic consequences, and the difficulties experienced due to the quarantine. Moreover, they compiled questionnaires evaluating their perception of individual and parent-child dyadic stress, and children emotional and behavioral symptoms. Findings: Results evidenced that the perception of the strain of the quarantine is a crucial factor that undermines both parents and children well-being. Quarantine’s impact on children behavioral and emotional problems is mediated by parent’s individual and dyadic stress with a stronger effect of the latter. Parents who reported more difficulties in dealing with quarantine show more individual and dyadic stress. This, in turn, increases children psychological symptoms. Living in a more at-risk area, the quality of home environment, or being in closer contact with the pandemic consequences, do not have effect on families’ well-being. Interpretation: Dealing with quarantine is a particular stressful experience for parents who have to balance personal life, work, and children upbringing, without other helping sources. This situation puts parents at a higher risk of experiencing distress, potentially impairing their ability to be supportive caregivers. The lack of support these children receive in such a difficult moment may be the reason of their higher psychological symptoms. Policies should take more into consideration the implications of the lockdown for families’ mental health, and supportive intervention for the immediate and the future should be promoted. Funding Statement: The authors received no specific funding for this work. Declaration of Interests: Authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the ethical commitment of the Department and was conducted according to American Psychological Association guidelines in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration.