Abstract

Measures implemented globally to minimize spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in significant changes for families. Since children’s developmental processes occur within an environmental context, examining how parenting practices and child behavior may have changed during COVID-19 is important to supporting children and families. The purpose of the current study was to examine levels of parenting behaviors for parents of kindergarten children prior to and following the onset of the global pandemic. In a sample of parents (n = 100; 89% female) we examined how child symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depressive, and oppositional symptoms), and mindful parenting related to changes in parenting behaviors. The results demonstrated that changes in parents’ levels of setting limits and supporting good behavior with their children from fall to spring depended on levels of children’s oppositional symptoms, children’s anxiety symptoms, and mindful parenting. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Impact Statement

The international coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is causing unprecedented changes in the lives of many children and families. The current study contributes to the literature by examining moderators of changes in parenting practices for parents of kindergarten children prior to and following the onset of the global pandemic. Results highlight ways to support children and families and directions for future research.

摘要

在全球范围内实施的旨在尽量减少 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 传播的措施给家庭带来了重大变化。由于儿童的发育过程发生在环境背景下，因此检查在 COVID-19 期间育儿实践和儿童行为可能发生的变化对于支持儿童和家庭非常重要。本研究的目的是检查全球大流行之前和之后幼儿园儿童父母的养育行为水平。在父母样本中（n = 100; 89% 的女性）我们检查了儿童症状（即焦虑、抑郁和对立症状）和正念养育如何与养育行为的变化相关。结果表明，从秋季到春季，父母设定限制和支持孩子良好行为水平的变化取决于孩子的对立症状、孩子的焦虑症状和正念养育的水平。讨论了这些发现的含义。

影响陈述

2019 年国际冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行正在给许多儿童和家庭的生活带来前所未有的变化。目前的研究通过检查全球大流行之前和之后幼儿园儿童父母育儿实践变化的调节因素，为文献做出了贡献。结果突出了支持儿童和家庭的方法以及未来研究的方向。