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Short‐term impacts of COVID‐19 on family caregivers: Emotion regulation, coping, and mental health
Author(s) -
Russell Beth S.,
Hutchison Morica,
Park Crystal L.,
Fendrich Michael,
FinkelsteinFox Lucy
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.23228
Subject(s) - mental health , coping (psychology) , psychology , stressor , anxiety , clinical psychology , transactional analysis , covid-19 , psychiatry , transactional leadership , disease , medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , social psychology , pathology
Background The negative mental health impact of coronavirus disease 2019‐related stressors may be heightened for those caring for children, who bear responsibity for their welfare during disasters. Aim Based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, we inquired whether caregivers' emotion regulation and coping behavior were associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Materials & Methods Data were collected through a national online survey in April 2020, and again 60 days later. Results: Of the 801 longitudinal cases, 176 (63.6% female; mean age = 33.5) reported caring for minors in their homes during the pandemic. Over 20% of caregivers experienced clinically concerning PTSS, rates higher than their noncaregiving counterparts. Regression analysis indicates caregivers' baseline mental health symptoms and emotion regulation predicted PTSS 60 days later. Discussion Implications for needed parenting supports among families experiencing traumatic stress are provided. Conclusion Anxiety symptoms at baseline were the most significant and consistent contributor to all models and were significantly higher among those with clinically concerning levels of PTSS suggesting a clear intervention target.