“Our life literally got turned upside down”: Mothers' experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to describe how the COVID‐19 pandemic influenced the lives of families with preschool‐age children, both broadly and with respect to familial roles, relationships, and routines.BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic placed a significant caregiving burden on families with young children, but the voices and experiences of these families have not been well documented in the scientific literature. Preschool‐age children undergo rapid brain development during the early childhood period, and thus these children may be especially vulnerable to the effects of pandemic‐related stress.MethodWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study with caregivers of preschool‐age children. A semi‐structured interview was used to elicit information about the COVID‐19 pandemic's influence on family functioning, routines, and relationships. We used inductive thematic analysis to code the data and identify themes and subthemes.ResultsThirty‐five women participated in the study. Women described both positive and negative influences of the pandemic on family life. Themes included: 1) disrupted routines and the parent juggling act, 2) rattled relationships and close connections, 3) the pile‐up of pandemic related stressors, and 4) coping strategies and “coming out on the other side.”Conclusions & ImplicationsA deeper understanding of the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on family life provides critical insight necessary to inform targeted intervention efforts and improve long‐term outcomes for families with young children.