Economic Precarity among Single Parents in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Change in BMI in Children Over the First 30 Months After the Start of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Our study aim was to assess body mass index (BMI) change in children in the immediate 6 months of the pandemic, to follow longitudinal BMI change up to 30 months after the pandemic start, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with these changes. Our study included a retrospective chart review of 1298 children 2 to 18 years old with office visits at an Indianapolis primary care clinic. Body mass index and sociodemographic information were collected at visits during 3 time periods: Prepandemic (March 1, 2019-February 28, 2020), Early Pandemic (June 1, 2020-November 30, 2020), and Late Pandemic (December 1, 2020-September 30, 2022). Data analysis indicated statistically significant increases in BMI monthly rate of change from Prepandemic to Early Pandemic periods. Interestingly, BMI rate of change stabilized from Early Pandemic to Late Pandemic periods but remained positive, suggesting children had slower, but persistent, continued BMI increase after the pandemic initiation.

Pre-Pandemic Factors Associated with Pandemic Impact and Psychosocial Distress Among Mothers of Young Children

OBJECTIVE

To describe COVID-19 pandemic impact among mothers of young children (0-8 yrs.) and assess pre-pandemic factors associated with greater pandemic impact and psychosocial distress.

METHODS

Mothers from three US birth cohorts (n=301, mean child age 2.4 years) reported on demographics and psychosocial distress (anxiety, perceived stress, financial stress) before the pandemic (2/2015-2/2020). During the pandemic (7/2020-6/2021), they completed a supplemental survey about the impact of the pandemic on their families (Coronavirus Impact Scale) and psychosocial distress. Multivariable linear and ordinal logistic regression were used to evaluate pre-pandemic factors associated with pandemic impact overall and by domain.

RESULTS

Compared to pre-pandemic reports, maternal anxiety symptoms increased by 9.4%, perceived stress increased by 13.3%, and financial stress increased by 41.7%, of which all were statistically significant changes. Participants reported the most severe pandemic impact in family routines (72.4%), experiences of stress (40.2%), and social support (38.6%). Mothers with some college or a 4-year degree experienced higher overall pandemic impact compared to mothers with the least and highest education. Pre-pandemic distress was not associated with pandemic impact however, mid-pandemic, all three distress measures were significantly positively associated with overall CIS, with the largest effect size noted for perceived stress (B=1.36, 95% CI: 0.90,1.82).

CONCLUSIONS

While, on average, mothers of young children experienced worsening psychosocial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-pandemic psychosocial stress alone was not prospectively associated with greater pandemic impact, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may have both elaborated existing systemic social inequalities and created new burdens.

WHAT'S NEW

While mothers of young children experienced worsening psychosocial distress during the pandemic, pre-pandemic psychosocial distress alone was not associated with greater family pandemic impact. The pandemic may have both exacerbated existing systemic social inequalities and created new burdens.

Early Childcare Precarity and Subsequent Maternal Health

PURPOSE

We examined prospective associations between early childcare precarity, or the security and reliability of childcare arrangements, and subsequent maternal health.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a secondary analysis of survey responses from mothers of 2,836 children in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing study. We assessed the following childcare measures: insecure childcare, insecure childcare with missed work, inadequate childcare, and emergency childcare support. We used linear and logistic regression models with robust standard errors to examine associations between these measures when the index child was age 3 and maternal health outcomes (overall health, depression, and parenting stress) later when the child was age 9. We then examined additive experiences of childcare measures across child ages 1 and 3 on maternal health outcomes.

RESULTS

Early inadequate childcare was associated with higher odds of later poor maternal overall health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-2.41). All early childcare precarity measures were associated with higher odds of maternal depression (insecure childcare [aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.23-2.18]; insecure childcare with missed work [aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.13-2.22]; and inadequate childcare [aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.22-2.51]). Emergency childcare support was associated with lower odds of adverse maternal health outcomes (poor overall health [aOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.88]; depression [aOR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.99]; and parenting stress [B -0.45; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.10]). Prolonged experiences had stronger associations with maternal health than shorter experiences.

CONCLUSION

Early childcare precarity has long-term adverse associations with maternal health, and emergency childcare support seems to be favorable for maternal health. These findings highlight childcare precarity as a social determinant of women's health for researchers, clinicians, and decision-makers.

A study of the mechanism for intergenerational transmission of gender roles in single-parent families

The divorce rate in China is rising yearly, and the concept of marriage is changing, triggering many social topics related to single parents. Among them, gender-awareness education for children in single-parent families is particularly worthy of attention, as there has been insufficient exploration of how parents transfer their gender role concepts to their children. This study conducted in-depth interviews with 58 single parents and children from 29 families in Suzhou and constructed the mechanism for intergenerational transmission of gender roles in single-parent families based on grounded theory. It found that single parents' gender stereotypes, the starting point of the intergenerational transmission mechanism, have been diluted. It affords them a more enlightened attitude towards child-rearing style, and they expect more equality in the gender role of their offspring. However, in some parents' actual parenting process, when the children's sexualization behaviours exceed their acceptance range, they will communicate with children in an authoritative and didactic way to "correct" the children's behaviour. In addition to direct verbal instruction, parents' expectations of their children's gender roles will be implicitly conveyed through various parent-child interactions in daily life to affect the formation of their children's gender roles. In the intergenerational transmission of gender roles, external people (such as grandparents, teachers and peer groups) have horizontal socialisation effects on children to modify or strengthen the results of gender education from their parents. Under the comprehensive influence of the above factors, the children's gender roles are finally determined. These studies expand previous theories and studies and have significant theoretical and practical implications.

Food Insecurity in the Rural South in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Food insecurity in rural communities in the Southern US continues to grow, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the characteristics of food-insecure individuals and families in this region is critical for developing creative strategies for eliminating this health disparity issue. A food insecurity survey was given to attendees at food-security events held in several counties in one Southern US state. A descriptive analysis of food insecurity in this region is presented, and recommendations for addressing food insecurity among underserved and disadvantaged populations are suggested.