Psychological impact of Covid-19 pandemic in Italian families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 109; p. 103840
• Main Authors: Bentenuto, Arianna, Mazzoni, Noemi, Giannotti, Michele, Venuti, Paola, de Falco, Simona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2021; Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Child; Child Behavior; Child externalizing behaviors; Communicable Disease Control - methods; Coparenting; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - psychology; COVID-19 pandemic; Female; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Needs Assessment; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders - epidemiology; Neurodevelopmental Disorders - psychology; Parental stress; Parents - psychology; Problem Behavior - psychology; Psychosocial Support Systems; SARS-CoV-2; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Stress, Psychological - prevention & control; Surveys and Questionnaires; Telemedicine - methods; Italy; Parental stress; COVID-19 pandemic; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Coparenting; Child externalizing behaviors
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103840

•Home confinement significantly increased parental stress and externalizing behaviors in children.•Parental stress is predicted by child externalizing behaviors.•In NDD, the decrease of therapeutic/rehabilitation activities is associated with higher externalizing behavior. Research on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted negative effects on the general population and particularly on parents. However, little is known about families of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD). The present study investigated parental stress, coparenting, and child adjustment in Italian families with children with NDD (N = 82) and typical developing children (TD, N = 82) during lockdown, using an online survey. Results of quantitative analyses showed a significant increase in parental stress and child externalizing behaviors, but not of coparenting. Parental stress is predicted by externalizing behaviors, and coparenting acted as a moderator in the relationship between the change in the amount of time spent with the children before and during lockdown and parental stress. In children with NDD, the decrease in therapeutic/rehabilitation support predicted higher externalizing behaviors. Qualitative analysis showed that beyond the difficulties and worries arising during lockdown, most of the parents appreciated the opportunity of spending more time with their children and strengthening the parent-child relationship. In conclusion, our results point out the importance of ensuring continuity of care for children with NDD (e.g. telehealth) during home confinement and of providing psychological support for parents.