Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities
Background The global pandemic and subsequent denials, delays, and disruptions in essential daily activities created significant challenges for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their parents. Public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to supports and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2136090 |
| _version_ | 1797960654022246400 |
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| author | Genevieve Currie Brittany Finlay Ashish Seth Christiane Roth Myada Elsabbagh Anne Hudon Matthew Hunt Sebastien Jodoin Lucyna Lach Raphael Lencucha David B. Nicholas Keiko Shakako Jennifer Zwicker |
| author_facet | Genevieve Currie Brittany Finlay Ashish Seth Christiane Roth Myada Elsabbagh Anne Hudon Matthew Hunt Sebastien Jodoin Lucyna Lach Raphael Lencucha David B. Nicholas Keiko Shakako Jennifer Zwicker |
| author_sort | Genevieve Currie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The global pandemic and subsequent denials, delays, and disruptions in essential daily activities created significant challenges for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their parents. Public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to supports and services required by children with NDDs to maintain their health and well-being. Objective This study sought to understand the impacts of these public health measures and restrictions on mental health from the perspective of parents with children with NDDs to inform pathways for public health policies responsive to the needs of this population. Method Interpretive descriptive design was used to guide data collection and data analysis. Forty caregivers were interviewed about their experience with pandemic restrictions. Findings Generic policy measures contributed to many gaps in families’ social support systems and contributed to mental health challenges for children and their parents. Four themes emerged: 1) lack of social networks and activities, 2) lack of access to health and social supports, 3) tension in the family unit, and 4) impact on mental health for children and their parents. Recommendations Emergency preparedness planning requires a disability inclusive approach allocating resources for family supports in the home and community. Families identified supports to minimize further pandemic disruptions and enhance recovery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3b439eacefa498f8152531c0dc9b676 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3b439eacefa498f8152531c0dc9b6762023-01-05T12:01:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312022-12-0117110.1080/17482631.2022.21360902136090Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilitiesGenevieve Currie0Brittany Finlay1Ashish Seth2Christiane Roth3Myada Elsabbagh4Anne Hudon5Matthew Hunt6Sebastien Jodoin7Lucyna Lach8Raphael Lencucha9David B. Nicholas10Keiko Shakako11Jennifer Zwicker12University of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryMcGill UniversityUniversite de MontrealMcGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMcGill UniversityUniversity of CalgaryMcGill UniversityUniversity of CalgaryBackground The global pandemic and subsequent denials, delays, and disruptions in essential daily activities created significant challenges for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their parents. Public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to supports and services required by children with NDDs to maintain their health and well-being. Objective This study sought to understand the impacts of these public health measures and restrictions on mental health from the perspective of parents with children with NDDs to inform pathways for public health policies responsive to the needs of this population. Method Interpretive descriptive design was used to guide data collection and data analysis. Forty caregivers were interviewed about their experience with pandemic restrictions. Findings Generic policy measures contributed to many gaps in families’ social support systems and contributed to mental health challenges for children and their parents. Four themes emerged: 1) lack of social networks and activities, 2) lack of access to health and social supports, 3) tension in the family unit, and 4) impact on mental health for children and their parents. Recommendations Emergency preparedness planning requires a disability inclusive approach allocating resources for family supports in the home and community. Families identified supports to minimize further pandemic disruptions and enhance recovery.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2136090parentschildrenyouthmental healthcovid-19disabilities |
| spellingShingle | Genevieve Currie Brittany Finlay Ashish Seth Christiane Roth Myada Elsabbagh Anne Hudon Matthew Hunt Sebastien Jodoin Lucyna Lach Raphael Lencucha David B. Nicholas Keiko Shakako Jennifer Zwicker Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being parents children youth mental health covid-19 disabilities |
| title | Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities |
| title_full | Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities |
| title_fullStr | Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities |
| title_short | Mental health challenges during COVID-19: perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities |
| title_sort | mental health challenges during covid 19 perspectives from parents with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities |
| topic | parents children youth mental health covid-19 disabilities |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2136090 |
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