Home-schooling and caring for children during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK: emotional states, systems of support and coping strategies in working mothers.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

We examined the experience of the intensification of home-schooling and/or childcare in working mothers in the United Kingdom during the first national COVID-19 lockdown. Our focus was on understanding how mothers dealt with this challenging period both emotionally and practically.

Methods

Eligible mothers (n = 47; Mage  =  39.6) participated in an anonymous online survey of openended questions.

Results

Thematic analysis of responses showed that mothers found home-schooling and/or childcare to be challenging. This was particularly notable in situations where support from partners, schools, and workplaces was limited. For single working mothers, the absence of support resources was especially impactful. Mothers often felt overly stressed trying to b

SUBMITTER: Kallitsoglou A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10991830 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature