Parental mental health and child anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America

What is it about?

In this study, over 10,000 parents from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina shared how they and their children were feeling emotionally during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. They filled out online surveys about feelings like sadness, worry, and stress. The study found that families who had less money and social support struggled more with these emotional challenges than those who had more resources. Additionally, mothers felt more stressed and anxious than fathers, and families with teenagers experienced more difficulties compared to those with younger children. Interestingly, families where parents stayed active reported feeling better mentally. The researchers believe it’s important to provide more mental health support to families in these countries, both during and after the pandemic.

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is unique because it explores how families in four different Latin American countries—Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina—handled stress, anxiety, and depression during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its broad, international focus offers a rare glimpse into the diverse impacts of the pandemic across various cultural and socioeconomic settings. Conducted during a global crisis, the study’s findings are timely, providing crucial data that can inform immediate mental health support and policy decisions.