Symposia
Transdiagnostic
Kelsey R. Eackles, B.S.
Ohio University
The Plains, Ohio
Darcey Allan, PhD
Assistant Professor
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
Nicholas P. Allan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
Julie Sarno Owens, PhD
Professor
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
Frances Wymbs, PhD
Assistant Professor
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
The ability to adapt to stress is a critical element of successful child development and adjustment. Previous research suggests that the frequent use of maladaptive responses to stress is associated with poorer adjustment and psychological health (e.g., Compas et al., 2017). However, less is known about how specific child- and parent-level factors are related to child responses to stress during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – an event that has generated a new range of challenges for families (Weaver & Swank, 2021). To better understand how families are being impacted by this unique stressor, we investigated associations between various parent-level factors (i.e., parent psychopathology, parent stress, COVID-19 related worries) and five child responses to stress after controlling for child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The sample included 189 parents of children between 4-11 years surveyed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents self-reported their stress (Perceived Stress Scale: Cohen & Williamson, 1988), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7: Spitzer et al., 2006), and worries about the pandemic (COVID-19 Impact Battery Worry Scale: Schmidt et al., 2021). They also reported on their child’s inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive behaviors (Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD-symptoms and Normal Behavior: Swanson et al., 2001), anxiety (Spence Anxiety Scales: Nauta et al., 2004; Spence et al., 2001), and coping responses (COVID-19 version of the Responses to Stress Questionnaire: Connor-Smith et al., 2000). Regression analyses indicated that COVID-19 catastrophizing worries was the only parent-level factor that was associated with four out of five child responses to stress (β = |.14-.34|; p = .000 - .029). Parent anxiety was positively related to child involuntary engagement (β = .41, p = .005). Child externalizing symptoms was negatively related to child secondary control coping (β = -.18, p = .003) and positively related to child involuntary disengagement (β = .22, p < .001). Child anxiety and parent stress were not uniquely related to any child response to stress. The results suggest that parental catastrophizing worries about the COVID-19 pandemic may be a particularly important factor to consider when investigating how the pandemic is affecting children and how we can best support children and families through the lasting impacts of the pandemic. Limitations, implications for the potential long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, and future directions are discussed.