The impact of Covid‐19 on experiences of pregnancy and/or early parenting in Chile

Bibliographic Data

ID11276525
AuthorsMarcia Olhaberry (0000-0002-5135-2175, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile, corresponding author), Catalina Sieverson (0000-0001-6757-607X, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile), Pamela Franco (0000-0002-6573-2136, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile), Macarena Romero (0000-0002-7096-1064, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile), Trinidad Tagle (0000-0002-6837-512X, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile), Daniela Iribarren (0000-0002-7422-9604, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile), Carolina Honorato (0000-0003-3048-6147, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile), Antonia Muzard (0000-0002-3803-1983, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Av Vicuña Mackenna Macul Santiago Chile)
Year2022
Volume43
Issue1
Pages8-23
Publication date2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInfant Mental Health Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-9641 • E-ISSN: 1097-0355
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/imhj.21955
PMID34932824
OpenAlexW4200173943
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited40

The unprecedented COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted families’ mental health around the globe. In June 2020, 1163 parents of high (43%), middle (47%), and low socioeconomic status (SES) (10%) participated in an online survey developed to explore how daily life changes and restrictions that came with COVID‐19 affected the experiences of pregnancy and/or parenting children under the age of 5 in Chile. The survey's design had an exploratory and descriptive scope, with a mix of qualitative and quantitative questions. With the aim of exploring differences before and after COVID‐19, two time periods were established, and the 47‐item questionnaire covered participants’ sociodemographic information, support networks, health concerns, mood changes, self‐regulation, adult and children's perceived well‐being, parental competencies and parents’ perceptions of the unborn baby and/or their children's needs. The results relative to retrospective reporting of pre‐pandemic levels, showed an increase in children's crying and tantrums as well as in parental irritability and sadness. Additionally, decreases in the ability to calm down and sleep quality in both parents and children were identified. Finally, at a qualitative level, COVID‐19 stands out both as an opportunity to get to know their children better and as a stressor related to parental burn‐out and discomfort

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Biology · Developmental psychology · Pregnancy · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Virology