Minority and low-SES families' experiences during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative study

Judith L Perrigo; Anya Samek; Michael Hurlburt

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106594

Minority and low-SES families' experiences during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative study

Child Youth Serv Rev. 2022 Sep:140:106594. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106594. Epub 2022 Jul 11.

Authors

Judith L Perrigo¹, Anya Samek², Michael Hurlburt³

Affiliations

¹ University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Luskin School of Public Affairs, 337 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
² University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Rady School of Management, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
³ University of Southern California (USC), Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore minority and low-SES families' general experiences with the stay-at-home mandate initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 31) were conducted in May 2020 - six to nine weeks after the stay-at-home mandate was initiated in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Participants were randomly selected from the parent Chicago Heights Early Childhood Center (CHECC) study (N = 2,185). Thematic content analysis of transcribed semi-structured interviews were employed.

Results: During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, ethnic minority and low-SES families were generally comfortable in their homes, but both children and their parents experienced poor wellbeing, such as elevated stress. Families reportedly avoided social resources, despite low-SES. Upon reflection, parents expressed that the pandemic had changed them and, in some ways, the changes were positive.

Conclusion: Readily available crisis-oriented resources, for both children and parents, are needed to help families maintain or rebuild their sense of control over their lives during the early phases of a collective crisis (e.g., pandemic). Although early observations help to contextual families' initial experiences, examining long-term trends can inform meaningful policies and practices that both support how low-SES families buffer against COVID-19-related negative impacts and mitigate ethnic and SES inequities and disparities.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Ethnic minority families; Family wellbeing; Low-SES; Resilience.