Predictors of children's emotion regulation outcomes during COVID-19: Role of conflict within the family

Abstract

Objective: This work aimed to analyze the role of family conflict on children's emotion regulation and stress outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought novel stress to families. The stress experienced could impact family relationships-specifically, perceptions of closeness and patterns of conflict. Positive family environment and high-quality family relationships are associated with adaptive coping and lower levels of stress among children.

Method: Data were collected online from 110 participants at baseline and again 30 days later. Associations between parent-child relationship, sibling relationships, and child stress and emotion regulation outcomes 30 days later were tested through multiple stepwise regression.

Results: Both significant regression models suggest that parent-child conflict is the strongest predictor of child stress and negativity over the 30-day assessment period. Sibling conflict predicted child stress but not negativity.

Conclusion: Family conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced children's emotion regulation outcomes as seen through significant associations between child-parent conflict, sibling conflict, perceived child stress, and children's negativity.

Implications: Family scientists and practitioners should consider interventions that help parents teach their children how to cope with their own stresses and emotions after conflict.

Keywords: family conflict; parent–child relationships; sibling relationships; stress and coping.