Associations of Household Structure and Presence of Children in the Household with Mental Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Associations of Household Structure and Presence of Children in the Household with Mental Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Emily Smail, Kira Riehm, Cindy Veldhuis, Renee M. Johnson, Calliope Holingue, Elizabeth Stuart, Luke Kalb and Johannes Thrul

Working paper

arXiv

2020

Purpose: The objectives of the current study were to: (1) assess the impact of household structure (i.e. living alone compared to living with children, a partner, or both) and presence of children on mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) determine whether these associations are moderated by income or sex. Results: A total of 2,524 adults aged 25-55 were included in the analytic sample. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between explanatory variables and mental distress, measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-4. In adjusted models, each additional child under the age of 12 was associated a decrease in mental distress (β=-0.21, p=0.03). This finding was significant when adjusting for sociodemographic variables (age, sex, race, education, household income, living with a partner, and currently having a job) and historical depressive symptoms (CESD-8). Having children between the ages of 13 and 18 and household structure were not significantly associated with mental distress.

Conclusion: This study supports prior literature that demonstrates the positive association of childrearing with psychological well-being, and suggests that these benefits may be present even under stay-at-home orders in the COVID-19 pandemic.