3.3. Open-Ended Question
eating home-cooked meals, depression, depressed, anxiety
SAID
Some 179 of 501 parents completed the COVID-19-impact survey (response rate 36%). There were 111 unique responses to the open-ended question. Responses varied in length. The most salient themes were related to (1) social isolation, (2) socio-emotional health of parents and child, and (3) financial strain (For the theme of socio-emotional health, parents reported that the social isolation they experienced led to significant mental health changes in both themselves and in their children. They reported living with higher levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and fear. One parent shared, “It has been difficult for [the kids] and for all of us”, and another said “The pandemic made me very depressed… I felt that the world fell apart.” Another important theme that emerged was financial strain, with parents reporting loss of household income and resulting financial strain that could be attributed directly to the COVID-19 pandemic. One parent said, “I lost my job due to the pandemic… and I didn’t qualify for unemployment.” Although a majority of qualitative responses shared were in alignment with these salient themes, a few parents also reported positive impact of the pandemic on their household, including the ability to spend more time with family, eating home-cooked meals together, and improvements in parent–child relationships.