Being a parent, emotional stability, and adjustment disorder symptoms in the face of COVID‐19

• Published date: 01 October 2022
• Author: Miri Kestler‐Peleg,Shani Pitcho‐Prelorentzos,Michal Mahat‐Shamir,Maya Kagan,Osnat Lavenda
• Date: 01 October 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12745

RESEARCH

Being a parent, emotional stability, and adjustment

disorder symptoms in the face of COVID-19

Miri Kestler-Peleg|Shani Pitcho-Prelorentzos|

MichalMahat-Shamir | MayaKagan | OsnatLavenda

School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel,

Israel

Correspondence Miri Kestler-Peleg, School of

Social Work, Ariel University, 40700, Ariel,

Israel.

Email: mirikepe@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective: The current study examines the correlation

between emotional stability and symptoms related to

adjustment to the stresses related to the pandemic for par-

ents and nonparents at the initial stage of the COVID-19

outbreak in Israel.

Background: At the early stage of the COVID-19 out-

break, governments prohibited public gatherings and

demanded social distancing. These challenges may be espe-

cially difficult for individuals with low levels of emotional

stability as adaptation difficulties may lead to stress-

related outcomes, such as adjustment disorder symptoms.

Additionally, in the face of a significant external threat

and the demand for intensive joint familial time at home,

the parental role becomes especially salient.

Methods: Two hundred forty-four Israeli adults filled in

self-reported e-version questionnaires regarding emotional

stability, adjustment disorder symptoms, and background

variables. A cross-sectional design was used to examine

the association between emotional stability and adjust-

ment disorder symptoms, as well as the potential modera-

tion by parenting status.

Results: The findings revealed that the levels of emotional

stability were negatively correlated with adjustment disor-

der symptoms, while being a parent mitigated this correla-

tion. This correlation was nonsignificant among parents.

Conclusion and Implications: It appears that the identity

salience of parental role in the current stressful situation

and its associated strain may have overcome the advantage

of emotional stability. The identity of being a parent has

the potential to dismiss it. Here, the social role emerges as

more forcible than the personality trait. Recommendations

for practice are discussed.

Received: 13 April 2021Revised: 16 September 2021Accepted: 15 January 2022

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12745

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2022;71:1325–1338. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 1325