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Did Children in Single-Parent Households Have a Higher Probability of Emotional Instability during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Takuto Naito

    (Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Yasutake Tomata

    (School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health and Social Services, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Yokosuka 238-8522, Japan
    Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Tatsui Otsuka

    (Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan)

  • Kanami Tsuno

    (School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan)

  • Takahiro Tabuchi

    (Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka 541-8567, Japan)

Abstract

The influence of public health measures against COVID-19 in Japan on child mental health by household type is unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 and the declaration of a state of emergency in Japan affected children’s mental health between single-parent and two-parent households disproportionately. A large cross-sectional online survey was conducted from August to September 2020. The study included 3365 parents with children aged 0–14 years old who reported their children’s mental status during the declared state of emergency. Emotional instability was reported dichotomously by parents. As the primary result, the probability of emotional instability was higher in single-parent households compared with that in two-parent households after adjustments for potential covariates; the adjusted prevalence ratio (95% CI) was 1.26 (1.07–1.49). Our findings suggest a disproportionate impact on children’s mental health due to the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Takuto Naito & Yasutake Tomata & Tatsui Otsuka & Kanami Tsuno & Takahiro Tabuchi, 2022. "Did Children in Single-Parent Households Have a Higher Probability of Emotional Instability during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4239-:d:785650
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salima Meherali & Neelam Punjani & Samantha Louie-Poon & Komal Abdul Rahim & Jai K. Das & Rehana A. Salam & Zohra S. Lassi, 2021. "Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Bouye, K.E. & Truman, B.I. & Hutchins, S. & Richard, R. & Brown, C. & Guillory, J.A. & Rashid, J., 2009. "Pandemic influenza preparedness and response among public-housing residents, single-parent families, and low-income populations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(S2), pages 287-293.
    3. Takaku, Reo & Yokoyama, Izumi, 2021. "What the COVID-19 school closure left in its wake: Evidence from a regression discontinuity analysis in Japan," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Riko Kawashita & Haruka Kato, 2024. "Mental Health and Parent–Child Residential Distance for Older People: Cross-Sectional Study Using a Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-12, February.

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