The role of gender, stress, and social support in parents' pandemic well-being: A cross-national study

Abstract

Objective The goal was to investigate whether and how the well-being of mothers and fathers was differentially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in four European countries and whether differences in stress and social support explain observed gender differences. Background Previous research documents that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on many people's lives and that some groups, such as women and parents, were affected more negatively than others. This study investigates potential underlying mechanisms and protective factors. Method In November 2020, 448 parents (218 fathers and 230 mothers, Mage = 41.18, SD = 8.47) from four European countries (Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom) completed an online questionnaire. Parents of elementary schoolchildren reported their stress, well-being, and social support currently and retrospectively for the first lockdown (spring 2020). Results Mothers experienced lower well-being than fathers during the pandemic, and parental well-being differed between countries. In addition, the stress caused by the need to combine paid work and child care partly mediated the relationship between gender and well-being, and social support played a protective role by buffering individuals from the negative impact of stress on well-being. Conclusion The study allows a more differentiated perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental well-being in Europe. Implications Results suggest in future health-related crises, policymakers and practitioners working with families should focus on providing additional support to mothers of young children to maintain their well-being.