Influence of Maternal Cognitions on Child Mental Health and Educational Experiences at Home During COVID-19

Suboptimal parenting characterized by low self-efficacy and perceived impact is associated with poor child mental health and academic outcomes, especially for at-risk families. This study capitalized on a longitudinal study conducted prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to test how prior parenting cognitions and environmental risk factors predict mental health and educational challenges faced by children during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic parenting and environmental risk data are available for a sample of 252 low-income mother-child dyads in Toronto, Canada. Research Findings: Mothers who had lower parental self-efficacy, but higher perceived parental impact prior to COVID-19 reported that their children faced educational challenges during the pandemic. In addition, mothers who reported lower levels of pre-pandemic parental self-efficacy reported that their children were more likely to have emotional and conduct problems greater than the sample average during COVID-19. Practice or Policy: Parents with specific profiles of parenting cognitions may need additional support to help their children cope during the pandemic.