How the mental health of working parents in Australia changed during COVID-19: A pre- to during pandemic longitudinal comparison.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cross-sectional studies indicate that mental health has deteriorated in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, including for parents. However, robust longitudinal studies interrogating change from before to during the pandemic remain rare. The current study analysed data from Australian parents surveyed in 2016 and August 2020. We investigate whether distress was higher in the COVID-19 period compared to pre-pandemic levels, and whether any increases in distress were greatest for parents living in Victoria (who had entered their second prolonged lockdown).

Methods

A community cohort of Australian working parents (n = 5197) was recruited online in 2016. In August 2020, 25.9 % (n = 1348) completed a follow-up survey. Analyses were restricted to those employed at bo

SUBMITTER: Leach L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9822551 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature