Parents could use some extra support during the pandemic, both emotionally and logistically.
But according to a new study from the American Psychological Association, fathers are significantly more likely to say they need emotional support during the pandemic than mothers.
Overall, 75% of parents with children under 18 said they could have used more emotional support, including a friend, family member, or mental health professional you can turn to if you’re worried or upset. according to the APAs. Thursday published report “Stress in America”.
More specifically, 82% of fathers said they needed more support than they had been given since the start of the pandemic, while only 68% of mothers surveyed said the same.
So what’s with this discrepancy?
For one thing, much research has shown that men generally have smaller social support networks than women, Dr. Lynn Bufka, APA’s senior director of practice transformation and quality, tells CNBC Make It.
“Many men’s social support and social contacts generally just come from work and their partners,” Bufka says.
Because many people work remotely during the pandemic, there are fewer opportunities to communicate with friends in the workplace.
Women are also less available to their partners during this time, as data suggests that women took on more responsibilities during the pandemic, Bufka says.
In fact, a recent study of 31,141 people from five countries found that during the pandemic, women, especially mothers, spent more time on “necessary things” such as childcare and household tasks than men.
Part of this has to do with the way men and women are socialized to distribute household chores “ inside and out, ” Bufka says. Other literature has shown that the person in a couple who is seen as having a more flexible job tends to take on more responsibilities, she says. (It is not clear how many of the 3,000 American adults included in the APA survey, which was conducted in mid-February, are same-sex or heterosexual couples.)
“If you put that together, you have men who previously depended on their female partner, who has now taken on a lot more responsibilities during the pandemic,” Bufka says. “And men have less access to sources of support through work.”
On the other hand, mothers were more likely than fathers to say their mental health has deteriorated compared to before the pandemic, according to the study. Nearly half of the mothers (47%) who have children at home who learn remotely reported that their mental health has deteriorated, while 30% of the fathers with children at home said the same.
A separate survey published in December found that working mothers are 28% more likely to burn out than fathers.
In the end, it too thinly spread its consequences in real life. With childcare and schools closed as a result of the pandemic, many women have been forced to leave their jobs due to increased demands at home. The total number of women who have left the workforce since the start of the pandemic was more than 2.3 million in January.
Bufka encourages those who can help (perhaps those who don’t have young children at home) to lend a hand to the parents.
“Recognize that the people with young children who may be struggling may not necessarily know that you can play outside with the kids for a while,” she says.
For people with children: “Think carefully: is there someone who can support us? What would that look like? What would really make a difference?” she suggests.
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