HAMILTON, ON — Researchers from McMaster University and Offord Centre for Child Studies have launched a follow-up province-wide survey to measure and understand how families with children are still coping with COVID-19. The new Ontario Parent Survey will launch Monday May 3, one year to the day of the first survey’s launch.
“The follow-up survey is being conducted because we had such an amazing response from caregivers across the province,” says lead researcher Andrea Gonzalez, Associate Professor and Tier II Canada Research Chair in Family Health and Preventive Interventions. “The findings were shared widely with many partners and helped inform some service and program allocation.”
The results of the 2020 survey were quite concerning, and provided a snapshot of the situation experienced by parents and caregivers after only three months of COVID and the initial public health measures.
• The most significant and troubling findings found 57% of caregivers/parents reported high
levels of depressive symptoms, and 40% of caregivers/parents reported deterioration in
their children’s behaviour and/or mood.
• Parents had also reported high levels of conflict with their partner since the lockdown
began, and just over one-third reported some loss of income.
The 2020 study findings were summarized under five themes: 1) caregiver mental health; 2)
children’s mental health; 3) impact on family relations; 4) impact on financial needs; and 5) positive
experiences. The new survey will continue these themes.
“We would now like to see how families are faring a year into the COVID pandemic and how the
rollercoaster ride of public health measures and school openings and closures are having an impact
on children and parents/caregivers,” says Gonzalez. “We also want to know what parents and
families may need moving forward as we slowly begin to emerge from the pandemic and plan for the
future.”
The research showed the stressors affecting families and households mostly are related to work-life balance – parenting and childcare, assisting children with their schoolwork at home, and working more hours, many from home. Parents said they were concerned by the inability to visit family or get support from extended family members. And they also expressed distress about working on the frontlines or returning to work and exposing their family to the virus.
“The 2020 survey was conducted after only three months of COVID lockdown,” says Gonzalez.” It’s now been 14 months since the COVID pandemic started. Ontario is in crisis state with a third wave of COVID and infection rates increasing. We’ve seen school closings, last minute remote learning, restrictions on some businesses but not others, and lockdowns and confusion that have made life for
parents/caregivers and students very challenging.”
Both studies general themes focus on the well-being and health of children and parents/caregivers, family stressors, family relations, and how COVID has had an impact on individuals and families.
“This follow-up study will help inform community practice on how to assist families through these very challenging times, now and in the future,” says Gonzalez. “Given the findings of this survey may be used to inform service provision and the development of family resources, it is important to hear from families that reflect the diverse range of races, ethnicities, socio-economic status, and family structures of which the province is composed.”
Starting Monday, May 3 for six weeks, parents and caregivers can participate in the survey by going
to www.OntarioParentSurvey.ca