Minority and low-SES families’ experiences during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106594Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Although the COVID-19 pandemic is unique, collective crises (times of acute difficultly) are common.

  • Initial responses to the pandemic crises offers lessons that can be applied for future collective crises.

  • Vulnerable populations (low-SES and minorities) are particularly important because they have less resources to buffer against potential hardships.

  • Crisis-oriented resources can help families maintain their sense of control over their lives during early phases of a collective crisis.

  • Long-term supports are also needed to buffer against COVID-19-related negative impacts (social inequities and disparities)

Abstract

Objectives

To explore minority and low-SES families’ general experiences with the stay-at-home mandate initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 31) were conducted in May 2020 – six to nine weeks after the stay-at-home mandate was initiated in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Participants were randomly selected from the parent Chicago Heights Early Childhood Center (CHECC) study (N = 2,185). Thematic content analysis of transcribed semi-structured interviews were employed.

Results

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, ethnic minority and low-SES families were generally comfortable in their homes, but both children and their parents experienced poor wellbeing, such as elevated stress. Families reportedly avoided social resources, despite low-SES. Upon reflection, parents expressed that the pandemic had changed them and, in some ways, the changes were positive.

Conclusion

Readily available crisis-oriented resources, for both children and parents, are needed to help families maintain or rebuild their sense of control over their lives during the early phases of a collective crisis (e.g., pandemic). Although early observations help to contextual families’ initial experiences, examining long-term trends can inform meaningful policies and practices that both support how low-SES families buffer against COVID-19-related negative impacts and mitigate ethnic and SES inequities and disparities.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic
Low-SES
Ethnic minority families
Family wellbeing
Resilience

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