COVID-19: Psychologische Folgen für Familie, Kinder und Partnerschaft

Abstract

This paper discusses the specific impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on family life, children, and relationships. It is addressed to all professionals in contact with affected families. The COVID-19 pandemic poses an acute threat to family well-being, as it may be associated with the psychological reactions (e. g., anxiety, depression, anger) of family members as well as causing social stressors related to financial insecurity, reduced working hours, unemployment, and existential fears. More than 70 % of children and adolescents feel emotionally distressed, and one in four children report family arguments being more frequent than before the Corona crisis. Parental partnership lies at the core of family functioning, but coparenting may have become more difficult during the crisis. In the wake of social distancing restrictions and the resulting isolation of families, there is still concern that relationship conflicts will increase, and that both partners and children will be at greater risk of physical, emotional, and sexual violence in the family. What is urgently lacking are adequate interventions to prevent escalations in families and to provide ways to achieve a constructive turnaround. Four recommendations are made: (1) develop and promote internet platforms that provide information on how to appropriately handle family crises; (2) provide financial support for the application of interactive online programs, especially for financially disadvantaged families; (3) initiate and fund respective marketing campaigns; (4) identify questionable / harmful online programs. Finally, the article provides a compilation of nonpersonal, internet-based interventions that can help to better cope with the expected difficulties in family life because of COVID-19, combined with easy-to-implement assistance and advice for dealing with other family members in psychologically stressful situations.