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Parental Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Friend or Foe? A Moderation Analysis of the Association between Maternal Anxiety and Children’s Stress in Italian Dyads

Author

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  • Alessia Cadamuro

    (Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy)

  • Elisa Bisagno

    (Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy)

  • Elena Trifiletti

    (Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy)

  • Gian Antonio Di Bernardo

    (Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy)

  • Emilio Paolo Visintin

    (Department of Humanities, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

Abstract

There is evidence that parental psychological disorders in stressful situations increase the risk of disturbance in child development. This has been investigated in disasters but not in pandemics, which are sensibly different from other types of traumatic events. We investigated the relationship between mothers’ anxiety and their children’s (self-reported) stress and the boundary conditions of this association during the first full COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mothers might have increased their protective attitudes to secure and support their children; we tested whether the relationship between mothers’ anxiety and children’s stress was weaker (buffer effect) or stronger (over-protection effect) when perceived parental support was high. We measured mothers’ anxiety, children’s perceived parental support, and children’s stress in a sample of 414 8- to 11-year-old primary school children (229 females, Mage = 9.44) and 395 mothers (Mage = 42.84). Results supported the over-protection scenario and provided the first evidence for the “helicopter-parent effect” during the COVID-19 pandemic: mothers’ anxiety was positively associated with children’s stress only when perceived support was high. Our finding highlights the importance of educating parents (for example, via emotional training) to prevent the worst consequences of adverse events in children and promote their mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessia Cadamuro & Elisa Bisagno & Elena Trifiletti & Gian Antonio Di Bernardo & Emilio Paolo Visintin, 2022. "Parental Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Friend or Foe? A Moderation Analysis of the Association between Maternal Anxiety and Children’s Stress in Italian Dyads," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:268-:d:1013639
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schofield, Thomas J. & Conger, Rand D. & Gonzales, Joseph E. & Merrick, Melissa T., 2016. "Harsh parenting, physical health, and the protective role of positive parent-adolescent relationships," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 18-26.
    2. Mayer, Yael & Ilan, Rotem & Slone, Michelle & Lurie, Ido, 2020. "Relations between traumatic life events and mental health of Eritrean asylum-seeking mothers and their children's mental health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
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