The Effects of COVID-19 on Parenting

This study examined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on parenting behaviors. Parent Development Theory (PDT) (Mowder, 2005) suggests the greater social-cultural environment can influence how parents perceive their role in relation to their child. The PDT parenting behaviors can be conceptualized as bonding, discipline, education, general welfare and protection, responsivity, sensitivity and negativity (Mowder, 2018). Changes in society during the pandemic may have influenced parenting behaviors and overall family dynamics. To address this question, participants completed demographic questions, the Parent Behavior Importance Questionnaire–3 (PBIQ–3) (Mowder, 2018), and an open-ended survey. Results from the PBIQ–3 were compared to previously collected parent norms reflecting parents’ ratings of the importance of PDT-related behaviors before the pandemic. The surveyed sample, during COVID-19, consisted of participants who identified as a parent of at least one child living in the home during the pandemic. Results suggest differences between how the importance of each subscale of PBIQ–3 behaviors were rated by parents before and during COVID-19. Discipline and negative parenting behaviors were rated as lower in importance than the normative sample means. Qualitative survey data indicates when parents were asked about various changes during the pandemic, they specifically point to changes in family dynamics most often. The results suggest a possible pattern of disengaging from specific parenting behaviors following a prolonged period of time in the parenting role without respite. This study offers implications for psychological services with parents during a crisis.