Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15516/cje.v24i3.4525
Behavioural Problems in Preschool Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey: The Role of Parental COVID-19 Experiences and Parental Stress, Depression and Anxiety
Semanur Sancili
orcid.org/0000-0003-4505-5438
; Department of Basic Education Faculty of Education Yildiz Technical University Cifte Havuzlar, YTU-Davutpasa Campus, 34220 Esenler/ Istanbul, Turkey
Mehmet Nur Tugluk
; Department of Basic Education Faculty of Education Yildiz Technical University Cifte Havuzlar, YTU-Davutpasa Campus, 34220 Esenler/ Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to examine the relationship between parents’ COVID-19
experiences (contact with COVID-19, housing conditions and the quality of life,
and difficulties of the pandemic period) and parental stress and their depression,
anxiety and stress levels. The study was conducted using a correlational survey
model, one of the quantitative research designs. The participants were selected via
convenience sampling method, i.e. 307 parents of children four to six years of age
from Istanbul voluntarily participated in the study (M=4,94; SD=0,79). The data
were collected online using the following instruments: General Information Form;
COVID-19 Survey; Parental Stress Scale; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale
(DASS21); and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The obtained
data were analysed using SPSS 25. The research results showed no significant
relationship between COVID-19 experiences and parental stress, that is, it was
proven that parents’ contact with COVID-19 does not affect their depression,
anxiety or stress levels. However, housing conditions, the changing quality of life due
to COVID- 19 and the experienced difficulties during the pandemic have an effect
on parents’ anxiety and stress levels. With regard to the relationship between the
COVID-19 pandemic and children’s behavioural problems, contact with COVID-19
and experienced difficulties during the pandemic were not found to be related to
children’s behavioural problems. On the other hand, the results revealed the joint
significant effect of parental experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and their
stress, depression and anxiety levels on children’s behavioural problems.
Keywords
children’s behavioural problems; COVID-19 pandemic; parental stress; preschool period
Hrčak ID:
285648
URI
Publication date:
16.11.2022.
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