Objective: The study analyses which pathways to adjustment emerged at the family level during the COVID-19 containment period in Italy, during which children were locked down with their families for 56 days from March 11 to May 6. Using a longitudinal design, with data pre- and postevent, a bivariate latent change score model analyzed the covariance of the change in family well-being (FW) and in emotional difficulties (ED), testing if the longitudinal change in ED is a function of the starting level of FW, and vice-versa. Children's stress reactions to the pandemic and other related experiences were included as additional predictors. Method: A total of 166 middle school students (86 females) with a mean age of 11.14 (SD = .47) completed two online questionnaires, in January 2020 (T0) and in June 2020 (T1). Results: Results showed that children's ED decreased significantly, on average, during the lockdown period, and FW remained constant. ED and FW change scores had a significant and negative covariation (beta = - .46; p = .01). When family well-being increased emotional difficulties decreased, and vice versa. FW at T0 predicted no change in FW, nor did T0 scores of ED predict any change in FW. Conclusions: The strong intercorrelated change between children's ED and FW during the lockdown does not seem influenced by preexisting levels of individual and family functioning. Findings supported the view that for some families, the COVID-19 lockdown was also an opportunity to experience deeper emotional connections, contributing to a decrease in ED.Clinical Impact Statement On average, the emotional difficulties of young adolescents during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown decreased significantly. This finding suggests that the family relationships during the lockdown, on average, contributed to a possible growth in terms of emotional well-being. When the dynamic and parallel change between children and family system is considered, the preexisting levels of functioning (individual and systemic) are not relevant. The reciprocal adjustment is defined during the stressful event. Findings suggest that it is essential to activate supportive actions (i.e. parent training aimed to promote positive emotion socialization and warm relationships during stressful events) for all the families at the very early stage of the containment measures.
Pathways to Resilience: The Parallel Change in Children's Emotional Difficulties and Family Context During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy / Nocentini, A; Palladino, BE; Imbimbo, E; Menesini, E. - In: PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA. - ISSN 1942-9681. - STAMPA. - (2022), pp. 1-10. [10.1037/tra0001248]
Pathways to Resilience: The Parallel Change in Children's Emotional Difficulties and Family Context During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy
Nocentini, A
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;Palladino, BEWriting – Review & Editing
;Imbimbo, EMembro del Collaboration Group
;Menesini, EWriting – Review & Editing
2022
Abstract
Objective: The study analyses which pathways to adjustment emerged at the family level during the COVID-19 containment period in Italy, during which children were locked down with their families for 56 days from March 11 to May 6. Using a longitudinal design, with data pre- and postevent, a bivariate latent change score model analyzed the covariance of the change in family well-being (FW) and in emotional difficulties (ED), testing if the longitudinal change in ED is a function of the starting level of FW, and vice-versa. Children's stress reactions to the pandemic and other related experiences were included as additional predictors. Method: A total of 166 middle school students (86 females) with a mean age of 11.14 (SD = .47) completed two online questionnaires, in January 2020 (T0) and in June 2020 (T1). Results: Results showed that children's ED decreased significantly, on average, during the lockdown period, and FW remained constant. ED and FW change scores had a significant and negative covariation (beta = - .46; p = .01). When family well-being increased emotional difficulties decreased, and vice versa. FW at T0 predicted no change in FW, nor did T0 scores of ED predict any change in FW. Conclusions: The strong intercorrelated change between children's ED and FW during the lockdown does not seem influenced by preexisting levels of individual and family functioning. Findings supported the view that for some families, the COVID-19 lockdown was also an opportunity to experience deeper emotional connections, contributing to a decrease in ED.Clinical Impact Statement On average, the emotional difficulties of young adolescents during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown decreased significantly. This finding suggests that the family relationships during the lockdown, on average, contributed to a possible growth in terms of emotional well-being. When the dynamic and parallel change between children and family system is considered, the preexisting levels of functioning (individual and systemic) are not relevant. The reciprocal adjustment is defined during the stressful event. Findings suggest that it is essential to activate supportive actions (i.e. parent training aimed to promote positive emotion socialization and warm relationships during stressful events) for all the families at the very early stage of the containment measures.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.