“Tell me what I'm doing wrong”: Criticism of parenting choices and mental health during COVID-19

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents struggled with high levels of economic insecurity and mental health difficulties. Social cognitive theory suggests that receiving criticism from others contributes to psychological distress. This mixed-methods study explored longitudinal associations between receiving criticism about parenting choices and parental anxiety, depression, and financial worries during COVID-19. Survey data were collected at two time points in April 2020 from a national U.S. sample of 359 parents (70 % White, 67 % female, average age 34 years). Quantitative analyses were conducted using logistic and linear regression, and qualitative responses were coded to elucidate topics of criticism. Criticism at T1 was associated with increased parental anxiety, depression, and financial worries at T2 after controlling for these outcomes at T1. Content coding revealed parents were criticized for lenient parenting styles (20.63 %) or for being too strict with COVID-19 precautions (18.13 %). Being criticized about parenting choices may exacerbate mental health problems. Parents may benefit from receiving positive feedback about their parenting methods, either through social media or from family members.