Stress Dynamics in Families with Children with Neuropsychiatric Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Three-Year Longitudinal Assessment

Ada Claudia Silvana Gruescu; Calin Popoiu; Mihaela Codrina Levai; Sonia Roxana Burtic; Isabella Ionela Sanda; Oana Neda-Stepan; Ovidiu Rosca; Roxana Manuela Fericean; Catalin Dumitru; Lavinia Stelea

doi:10.3390/jcm12227170

Stress Dynamics in Families with Children with Neuropsychiatric Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Three-Year Longitudinal Assessment

J Clin Med. 2023 Nov 18;12(22):7170. doi: 10.3390/jcm12227170.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
² Doctoral School, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
³ Research Center for Medical Communication, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
⁴ Department VIII-Neurosciences, Discipline of Psychiatry, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.

Abstract

Background and objectives: This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with children diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders, focusing on stress dynamics and quality of life.

Materials and methods: A longitudinal survey was conducted over three years (2020-2022) involving 168 families. The survey included data on demographics, diagnosed conditions, access to therapies, mental well-being, and perceived challenges.

Results: The study involved 62, 51, and 55 families in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. ADHD emerged as the most prevalent condition, diagnosed in approximately 32% of the children. The pandemic significantly affected therapy access, with parents reporting a decrease from an average score of 8.1 in 2020 to 6.5 in 2022 (p = 0.029). Parents also reported increased feelings of being overwhelmed, peaking at 8.0 in 2021 before declining to 6.3 in 2022 (p = 0.017). Despite these challenges, there was a positive trend in family mental well-being, with scores increasing from 5.1 in 2020 to 6.7 in 2022 (p = 0.031). The Parental Stress Index (PSI) indicated decreasing trends in Emotional Stress and Parent-Child Communication Difficulties (p < 0.001), and Behavioral Challenges in children showed a significant reduction across the years (p < 0.001). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) reflected a moderate reduction in anxiety levels from 7.6 in 2020 to 6.0 in 2022 (p = 0.038), although depression scores did not show a significant change.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic introduced notable challenges for families with neuropsychiatrically diagnosed children, particularly in therapy access and increased parental stress. However, the study also reveals a general improvement in family dynamics, mental well-being, and a decrease in behavioral challenges over time. The necessity of this study stems from the critical need to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with neuropsychiatrically diagnosed children, focusing on their resilience and adaptation in navigating therapy access, parental stress, and overall mental well-being.

Keywords: COVID-19; child neurology; pandemic; parental stress.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.