Parental identity as a resource for parental adaptation during the COVID-19 lockdown.

2021/07/22 by Charlotte Schrooyen, Bart Soenens, Joachim Waterschoot +8
Psychology · Social Sciences · #COVID-19 and Mental Health #Family Support in Illness #Resilience and Mental Health

paper · doi:10.1037/fam0000895

openalex publication_date 2021/07/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

= 44 years, 63.7% in intact family, 31.2% with a university degree) completed online questionnaires on parental identity, need-based experiences, positive and negative parenthood experiences, and mental health. Several weeks earlier, these participants also rated their mental health and a variety of risks they were exposed to as part of a larger study. Results showed that a clear and self-endorsed parental identity was related to better parental adaptation, with parental need satisfaction playing a mediating role in these associations. Moreover, these associations remained significant after controlling for the prior levels of parental mental health and for cumulative risk. Overall, findings suggest that parental identity serves as a source of resilience in an uncertain period such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

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