PERCEIVED THREATS AND DIFFICULTIES OF MOTHERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AFTER 9 MONTHS IN A COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The current coronavirus pandemic poses challenges to psychological well-being. Children and mothers of young children are especially vulnerable. The present qualitative study further extends and deepens the understanding of psychological response to COVID-19 pandemic of mothers of young children and their children (0-4 years of age). The aim of the present study is to outline perceived threats and difficulties 9 months after the COVID-19 outbreak in Bulgaria in a period of high infection rate and childcare closures. Using conceptual cluster analysis, the free text answers of 77 mothers were grouped into clusters and subclusters.  Mothers of young children continue to report a wide range of perceived threats and difficulties later on in the pandemic. The most frequently perceived threats were the lockdown and social isolation of the child, the coronavirus disease itself, and the capacity of the health system. Almost half of the respondents did not perceive any difficulties. Among the other respondents the most frequently reported difficulties were the lack of social contacts, the fact that the child does not go out, childcare closures and boredom. Dynamics of experiences of the pandemic over time were examined by comparing the present results with ones from a previous study (Paunova-Markova, 2020) conducted during the first month of COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Bulgaria.