Family conversations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March of 2020, the lives of billions of people changed.The COVID-19 pandemic was unique as it was an extended event-without a clear end-that involved lockdowns, quarantines, and restrictions, but it was also a time when many parents and children spent large amounts of time together at home sheltering in place.In this special issue, we bring together research from diverse populations across the globe centered on family conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic.The research presented here showcases the breadth of research methods dedicated to family communication, spans developmental periods ranging from early childhood through adolescence, incorporates different constellations of family members, was collected at multiple time points across the pandemic, and examines the mechanistic role that familial conversations may have for child and family well-being.This work has important implications and applications for future widespread societal challenges and, taken together, provides compelling evidence that one way forward may be to focus efforts on resource-efficient and easy-to-implement interventions that target changes in family communication patterns prior to, during, and/or after significant life events. Public Significance StatementThe findings from the studies in this special issue may inform general recommendations for families regarding the importance of continued communication even under difficult and stressful conditions.This work advances our knowledge regarding what types of conversational styles may benefit youth the most in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and other similar situations in the future.Further, the findings may inform the development of targeted support strategies and interventions for family members and all individuals who work with youth and families to navigate such conversations, thus contributing to positive outcomes for children and families in times of stress.