RT Article
T1 Higher levels of harsh parenting during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands
JF Child maltreatment
VO 27
IS 2
SP 156
OP 162
A1 Sari, Novika Purnama
A2 IJzendoorn, Marinus H. van 1952-
A2 Jansen, P. W.
A2 Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J. 1965-
A2 Riem, Madelon M. E.
LA English
YR 2022
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1845486382
AB Previous studies on the impact of COVID-19 indicate that pandemic-related distress increases risks for child maltreatment, although data on the scope of this problem are still scarce. Here, we assessed whether parents with toddlers (n = 206) more often used harsh discipline during the lockdown in the Netherlands compared to a matched parent sample collected prior to the pandemic (n = 1,030). Parents were matched on background characteristics using propensity score matching. We found that harsh parenting levels were significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. Harsh parenting behaviors with a low prevalence before COVID-19 increased most strongly: shaking, calling names, and calling the child stupid. These results suggest that parental tolerance for children’s disobedience is lower under the adverse circumstances of COVID-19 and, as a result, abusive parenting responses are more difficult to inhibit. Thus, a lockdown seems to increase risks for child maltreatment, underscoring the need for effective support strategies for at-risk families.
K1 child maltreatment
K1 emotional maltreatment
K1 Parenting
K1 Physical Abuse
K1 Propensity score matching
DO 10.1177/10775595211024748