Session: COVID-19's Impact on Parenting: Differential Experiences By Race, Class, and Gender (Society for Social Work and Research 27th Annual Conference - Social Work Science and Complex Problems: Battling Inequities + Building Solutions)

This symposium includes several presentations related to parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. A national perspective is offered using data from three national surveys involving 3,000 respondents each. Particular attention to the race, class, and gender differences in pandemic experiences that influence family functioning and wellbeing, as well as specific parenting behaviors, will be presented. A more regional perspective on parenting experiences during the pandemic is also provided, with a focus on unmet needs and their relation to parental wellbeing (stress, mental health) and parenting. These survey finding primarily involve more economically advantaged, educated and White mothers. The final two presentations offer findings from a qualitative study of Black, low-income fathers co-parenting children during the pandemic.

The U.S. is still learning from the experiences of parents and caregivers during the pandemic. Findings from this collection of studies adds to the small but growing literature on the challenges and opportunities parents and caregivers faced in the context of COVID-19. One thing is clear--the U.S. was not well-prepared to adequately support families and caregivers during this challenging time. The hope is that the findings from these and other studies will inform a more thoughtful, comprehensive, and equitable response to future health crises.