Thesis
Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental tolerance of child distress and child's anxiety symptom severity
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000784
Abstract
As of June 2021, over thirty-four million individuals in the United States have been infected with SARs-cov-2, also known as COVID-19. To date, infection with the virus has resulted in the deaths of over 609,000 persons. For some individuals, recovering from the infection has resulted in developing long-term health complications. Most states and territories issued restrictions on activities within businesses, schools, and community facilities to mitigate infection rates. Although most major restrictions are being lifted across the country as of spring 2021, uncertainty remains about when operations will resume to full "normality", especially for children who are not yet eligible for vaccinations. Parents have been particularly burdened by the unprecedented amount of uncertainty because they are responsible for coping with their personal challenges during the global pandemic as well as those of their children. Lack of structure and unexpected adjustments can be particularly difficult for children with anxiety and even exacerbate their symptoms. Research suggests parents' ability to cope with the distress of their child is a predictor of a child's severity of anxiety symptoms such that a lower tolerance is related to increased severity (Selles et al., 2017). Given the likely short- and long-term impact of stress on families caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine the impact in relation to parental tolerance of child distress (PTCD) and severity of anxiety symptoms. This exploratory study sought to establish an initial understanding of the impact of the pandemic on parents and their children with anxiety. No significant results were found via a moderation analysis; however the sample size was very small. This study provides a framework in which this relationship can be further explored, even well past the initial time of the pandemic.
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Details
- Title
- Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental tolerance of child distress and child's anxiety symptom severity
- Creators
- Jenna R. Kiely
- Contributors
- Brian P. Daly (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vi, 39 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991015241381904721