Parents' perceptions of children's emotional well-being during spring 2020 COVID-19 restrictions: A qualitative study with parents of young children in England.
Stephanie Chambers, Joanne Clarke, Ruth Kipping and 6 others
PMID 35839296WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of preschoolers in England described children losing sleep and having more tantrums when nursery closed.
Some children bonded more with family. Parents struggled to create routines without external support. These are reported perceptions, not measured outcomes.
Key findings
01Parents reported negative changes in children's mood and behaviour, including increased tantrums, anxiety, and developmental regression such as sleep difficulties.
02Some parents reported positive changes, such as children feeling more secure at home and bonding more closely with immediate family members.
03Parents found it challenging to establish new routines because they lost access to usual support systems like childcare, local amenities, and family contact.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relies entirely on parent reports, not direct observation or child self-report. Parents who were struggling most with childcare may have been less likely to participate. The sample was highly educated (65% had a degree), which may not reflect the experiences of parents with lower levels of education. The interviews took place during a short, initial period of restrictions (spring 2020), so long-term impacts are not captured. Financial hardship was not explicitly asked about, though some families reported unemployment.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Medical Research Council, Public Health Research Programme, and NIHR School for Public Health Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these reports as evidence that lockdown caused specific clinical disorders in children. The study captures parents' perceptions during a short period and cannot separate the impact of the pandemic from other concurrent stressors like unemployment or housing issues.