1.81 The Role of Structured Parenting and Shared Parenting Responsibilities in Parental Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated deterioration in child and parent mental health. Parent mental health has been strongly associated with child mental health. However, studies on factors that can ameliorate parent mental health during the pandemic have been sparse. Lockdowns have impacted structured parenting (use of routines and limits) and shared parenting responsibilities. We investigated the role of structured parenting and shared parenting on the mental health of parents living in 2-parent households during the pandemic.MethodsUsing data drawn from the longitudinal Ontario COVID-19 and Kids Mental Health Study cohort, 828 parents with 3450 observations (88.2% mothers; Mage = 43.64 years; SD = 5.77) in Ontario, Canada, completed online surveys. Structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities (Childbearing Attitudes Questionnaire [CAQ]) were assessed in April to May 2020. Depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-8 [PHQ-8]) and anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]) were assessed from April 2020 to March 2022. We used linear mixed models to examine the associations between structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities with parent mental health throughout the pandemic, stratified by age group (6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-18 years).ResultsControlling for income, parental role, parent ethnicity, previous child mental health diagnosis, and baseline parent mental health symptoms, parents of children aged 10 to 12 years who reported more structured parenting at the start of the pandemic had lower depression symptoms during the pandemic (β = -.11; p < .05). Structured parenting was not associated with parent anxiety symptoms for any age group. Across all age groups, parents who reported high levels of shared parenting responsibilities at the start of the pandemic had lower depression (β's = -.13 to -.25; all p's < .01) and anxiety symptoms (β's = -.13 to -.21; all p's < .01) during the pandemic.ConclusionsIn addition to established positive effects on child well-being, structured and shared parenting are associated with reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in parents. Support of structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities may be a promising strategy to ameliorate parent mental health during the pandemic recovery.PAT, AD, DDD ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated deterioration in child and parent mental health. Parent mental health has been strongly associated with child mental health. However, studies on factors that can ameliorate parent mental health during the pandemic have been sparse. Lockdowns have impacted structured parenting (use of routines and limits) and shared parenting responsibilities. We investigated the role of structured parenting and shared parenting on the mental health of parents living in 2-parent households during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated deterioration in child and parent mental health. Parent mental health has been strongly associated with child mental health. However, studies on factors that can ameliorate parent mental health during the pandemic have been sparse. Lockdowns have impacted structured parenting (use of routines and limits) and shared parenting responsibilities. We investigated the role of structured parenting and shared parenting on the mental health of parents living in 2-parent households during the pandemic. MethodsUsing data drawn from the longitudinal Ontario COVID-19 and Kids Mental Health Study cohort, 828 parents with 3450 observations (88.2% mothers; Mage = 43.64 years; SD = 5.77) in Ontario, Canada, completed online surveys. Structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities (Childbearing Attitudes Questionnaire [CAQ]) were assessed in April to May 2020. Depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-8 [PHQ-8]) and anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]) were assessed from April 2020 to March 2022. We used linear mixed models to examine the associations between structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities with parent mental health throughout the pandemic, stratified by age group (6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-18 years). Using data drawn from the longitudinal Ontario COVID-19 and Kids Mental Health Study cohort, 828 parents with 3450 observations (88.2% mothers; Mage = 43.64 years; SD = 5.77) in Ontario, Canada, completed online surveys. Structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities (Childbearing Attitudes Questionnaire [CAQ]) were assessed in April to May 2020. Depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-8 [PHQ-8]) and anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]) were assessed from April 2020 to March 2022. We used linear mixed models to examine the associations between structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities with parent mental health throughout the pandemic, stratified by age group (6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-18 years). ResultsControlling for income, parental role, parent ethnicity, previous child mental health diagnosis, and baseline parent mental health symptoms, parents of children aged 10 to 12 years who reported more structured parenting at the start of the pandemic had lower depression symptoms during the pandemic (β = -.11; p < .05). Structured parenting was not associated with parent anxiety symptoms for any age group. Across all age groups, parents who reported high levels of shared parenting responsibilities at the start of the pandemic had lower depression (β's = -.13 to -.25; all p's < .01) and anxiety symptoms (β's = -.13 to -.21; all p's < .01) during the pandemic. Controlling for income, parental role, parent ethnicity, previous child mental health diagnosis, and baseline parent mental health symptoms, parents of children aged 10 to 12 years who reported more structured parenting at the start of the pandemic had lower depression symptoms during the pandemic (β = -.11; p < .05). Structured parenting was not associated with parent anxiety symptoms for any age group. Across all age groups, parents who reported high levels of shared parenting responsibilities at the start of the pandemic had lower depression (β's = -.13 to -.25; all p's < .01) and anxiety symptoms (β's = -.13 to -.21; all p's < .01) during the pandemic. ConclusionsIn addition to established positive effects on child well-being, structured and shared parenting are associated with reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in parents. Support of structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities may be a promising strategy to ameliorate parent mental health during the pandemic recovery.PAT, AD, DDD In addition to established positive effects on child well-being, structured and shared parenting are associated with reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in parents. Support of structured parenting and shared parenting responsibilities may be a promising strategy to ameliorate parent mental health during the pandemic recovery.