Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics: Parenting
44 - Assessing impacts of COVID-19 stressors on the loneliness of female caregivers with children aged 0 - 2.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
3:30 PM – 6:00 PM US MT
Poster Number: 44 Publication Number: 44.203
Milan Chuttani, Boston Medical Center, Somerviile, MA, United States; Clare Viglione, Boston Medical Center, san diego, CA, United States; MariaDelSol De Ornelas, Boston Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Hassan Lubega, Boston Medical Center, Brookline, MA, United States; Ishaan Shah, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States; Renee D. Boynton-Jarrett, Boston Medical Center Vital Village Networks/ Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
Data Analyst - Vital Village Networks Boston Medical Center Somerviile, Massachusetts, United States
Background:
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in social resources and support for caregivers of young children, including changes in availability of childcare, loss of income, and deaths of loved ones. The negative impact of parental loneliness on child health outcomes is well documented. However, understanding factors that may exacerbate or buffer loneliness may provide insights into strategies to support caregivers during public health emergencies.
Objective:
Objective: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic, health and social stressors on the loneliness of female caregivers of children between 0 and 2 years of age and explore resilience factors.
Design/Methods:
Design/Methods: Between August 2020 and July 2021, a cross-sectional survey on COVID-19 related stressors was administered via phone or electronic survey to 300 caregiver-child dyads in the control group of an ongoing trial exploring CenteringParenting and child development. Caregivers were over 18 years old, fluent in English or Spanish, and self-identified as the mother or female legal caregiver of the index child. Respondent scores were calculated for the UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), and the 2020 American Psychological Association Stress in America survey (COVID-19 stressors). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and bivariate regression analyses were conducted with the Loneliness Scale.
Results:
Results: Of the 279 caregivers who responded to the questionnaire, 277 caregivers participants were included in the analysis. The mean scores on the Loneliness Scale and BRCS were 4.1 ± 1.6 and 14.4 ± 4.3 respectively. The most frequently reported stressors were loss of family income (n= 158, 57%), increased responsibilities around childcare or education (n=161, 58%), contracting or having a family member contract COVID-19 (n=68, 24%), and the death of close friends or relatives (n=66, 24%). Bivariate analyses revealed that caregiver loneliness was significantly associated with difficulty paying for housing (β=0.55, p=.001) and utilities (β=0.38, p=.050).Conclusion(s):
Conclusion: Female caregivers of infants during the COVID-19 pandemic experience social and economic stressors with income loss and increased childcare responsibilities most frequently reported. Findings suggest that loneliness is common for parents of young children and may be related to difficulty paying for housing and utilities. Providing caregivers of infants with housing and utility support may reduce caregiver loneliness during a pandemic.