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Testing the Effects of COVID-19 Confinement in Spanish Children: The Role of Parents’ Distress, Emotional Problems and Specific Parenting

Author

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  • Estrella Romero

    (Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Laura López-Romero

    (Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Beatriz Domínguez-Álvarez

    (Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Paula Villar

    (Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Jose Antonio Gómez-Fraguela

    (Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effects of the Spanish confinement derived from the COVID-19 crisis on children and their families, accounting for child’s age. A range of child negative (e.g., conduct problems) and positive outcomes (e.g., routine maintenance) were examined, along with a set of parent-related variables, including resilience, perceived distress, emotional problems, parenting distress and specific parenting practices (e.g., structured or avoidant parenting), which were modeled through path analysis to better understand child adjustment. Data were collected in April 2020, with information for the present study provided by 940 (89.6%) mothers, 102 (9.7%) fathers and 7 (0.7%) different caregivers, who informed on 1049 Spanish children (50.4% girls) aged 3 to 12 years (M age = 7.29; SD = 2.39). The results suggested that, according to parents’ information, most children did not show important changes in behavior, although some increasing rates were observed for both negative and positive outcomes. Child adjustment was influenced by a chain of effects, derived from parents’ perceived distress and emotional response to the COVID-19 crisis, via parenting distress and specific parenting practices. While parenting distress in particular triggered child negative outcomes, specific parenting practices were more closely related to child positive outcomes. These findings may help to better inform, for potential future outbreaks, effective guidelines and prevention programs aimed at promoting the child’s well-being in the family.

Suggested Citation

  • Estrella Romero & Laura López-Romero & Beatriz Domínguez-Álvarez & Paula Villar & Jose Antonio Gómez-Fraguela, 2020. "Testing the Effects of COVID-19 Confinement in Spanish Children: The Role of Parents’ Distress, Emotional Problems and Specific Parenting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:6975-:d:418246
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Mingxiao & Xu, Zhuxian, 2024. "A study on regulating factors of the influence of Children’s negative emotions on mothers' parenting stress: A study of China's post-80s generation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    2. Jade Sheen & Elizabeth M. Clancy & Julie Considine & Alison Dwyer & Phillip Tchernegovski & Anna Aridas & Brian En Chyi Lee & Andrea Reupert & Leanne Boyd, 2022. "“Did You Bring It Home with You?” A Qualitative Investigation of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Victorian Frontline Healthcare Workers and Their Families," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Rafat Ghanamah & Hazar Eghbaria-Ghanamah, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavioral and Emotional Aspects and Daily Routines of Arab Israeli Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Sarah Foley & Farzaneh Badinlou & Karin C. Brocki & Matilda A. Frick & Luca Ronchi & Claire Hughes, 2021. "Family Function and Child Adjustment Difficulties in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Aurora Bonvino & Antonella Calvio & Roberta Stallone & Chiara Valeria Marinelli & Tiziana Quarto & Annamaria Petito & Paola Palladino & Lucia Monacis, 2023. "Emotions in Times of Pandemic Crisis among Italian Children: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-34, June.
    6. Markus Stracke & Miriam Heinzl & Anne Dorothee Müller & Kristin Gilbert & Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup & Jean Lillian Paul & Hanna Christiansen, 2023. "Mental Health Is a Family Affair—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Associations between Mental Health Problems in Parents and Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    7. 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.
    8. Moghadam, Talie T. & Ochoa Morales, Carlos E. & Lopez Zambrano, Maria J. & Bruton, Ken & O'Sullivan, Dominic T.J., 2023. "Energy efficient ventilation and indoor air quality in the context of COVID-19 - A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    9. Yui Yamaoka & Aya Isumi & Satomi Doi & Takeo Fujiwara, 2021. "Association between Children’s Engagement in Community Cultural Activities and Their Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from A-CHILD Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Christoph Lindner & Ibolya Kotta & Eszter Eniko Marschalko & Kinga Szabo & Kinga Kalcza-Janosi & Jan Retelsdorf, 2022. "Increased Risk Perception, Distress Intolerance and Health Anxiety in Stricter Lockdowns: Self-Control as a Key Protective Factor in Early Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-22, April.
    11. María Dolores Hidalgo & Nekane Balluerka & Arantxa Gorostiaga & José Pedro Espada & Miguel Ángel Santed & José Luis Padilla & Juana Gómez-Benito, 2020. "The Psychological Consequences of COVID-19 and Lockdown in the Spanish Population: An Exploratory Sequential Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.

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