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Parenting a Child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantitative and Qualitative Cross-Cultural Findings

Author

Listed:
  • Noemi Mazzoni

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy)

  • Arianna Bentenuto

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy)

  • Fabio Filosofi

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy)

  • Angela Tardivo

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy
    Observation and Functional Diagnosis Division, PSISE Clinical and Developmental Psychological Service, Calle Albendiego 7, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Lane Strathearn

    (Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

  • Kasra Zarei

    (Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

  • Simona De Falco

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy)

  • Paola Venuti

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Iandolo

    (Observation and Functional Diagnosis Division, PSISE Clinical and Developmental Psychological Service, Calle Albendiego 7, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychology, School of Biomedical Sciences, European University of Madrid, Calle Tajo S/N, (Urb. El Bosque), Villaviciosa de Odón (Madrid), 28670 Madrid, Spain)

  • Michele Giannotti

    (Laboratory of Observation, Diagnosis and Educational (ODFLAB), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Trento, Italy)

Abstract

Research during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a strong relationship between child symptoms, parental stress, and mental health challenges. The pandemic has changed family routines, worsening child symptomatology and parental burden. The aim of this study was to investigate how the magnitude of the perceived changes in child externalizing behavior, parental stress, and discontinuity of therapy—from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic—affected parental mental health during the pandemic. Moreover, we sought to compare these aspects cross-culturally between European countries and the USA. To these purposes, we asked Italian, Spanish, and U.S. parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) to complete an online survey. Quantitative results showed that increased parental stress may have contributed to a worsening in parental psychological distress, regardless of culture. Moreover, they suggested an indirect effect of child externalizing behaviors on parents’ psychological distress via parental stress. Qualitative analyses highlighted that the lack, or discontinuity, of therapeutic activities may have been one of the key contributors to parenting burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, qualitative results highlighted resilience factors that could have decreased the risk of psychological problems during the pandemic, such as a strong sense of parental efficacy and the ability to adapt to changing family dynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Noemi Mazzoni & Arianna Bentenuto & Fabio Filosofi & Angela Tardivo & Lane Strathearn & Kasra Zarei & Simona De Falco & Paola Venuti & Giuseppe Iandolo & Michele Giannotti, 2022. "Parenting a Child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantitative and Qualitative Cross-Cultural Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:499-:d:1017878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saijun Zhang & Ying Hao & Yali Feng & Na Youn Lee, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts on Children with Developmental Disabilities: Service Disruption, Transition to Telehealth, and Child Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
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