INTRODUCTION:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) a pandemic. A global coordinated effort is needed to stop the further of the virus. A pandemic is defined as ‘occuring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.’The first SARS-CoV-2 positive case in India was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30^th 2020. Subsequently, the number of cases drastically rose. COVID-19 poses unique stressors to families, as well ask cumulative risks that include socio-economic and health related stresses. Investigator decided to plan the study to assess parental stress regarding Covid-19 pandemic between the age of 40 and 60 years in Kottayam district, Kerala.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

A novel corona virus (COVID -19) has spread across the global resulting in significant changes in virtually every aspect of life. National shelter- in place orders, quarantine and lockdown restrictions have taken a particularly strong parents who have had to navigate drastic and often unanticipated changes in daily work and school routines for themselves and their children. Stress can accumulate as a result of a broad range factors. In context of child maltreatment, a large body of literature focus on stressors at individual and family level. That is, child maltreatment may occur as a result of stressors that include economic hardship and child behavior problems, among others, but that might not otherwise impact persons outside of the family.¹ Though we heard a lot about stress of parents during COVID-19 pandemic in other cultures, but it is not as such studied in our Indian culture. So the researcher felt the need of assessing the parental stress by children due to COVID-19 pandemic. It will help to get aware of coping strategies so that they can lead a life smoothly in the coming years.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

A study to assess psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic in a selected rural community at Kottayam district.

OBJECTIVES:

a) Assess psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic.

b) Find out the association between psychosocial parental stress and selected socio- demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

Assess:

It is the activity to estimate the stress of parents regarding COVID-19 pandemic.

Parental stress:

It is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure faced by parents. Instrument used is perceived stress scale.

COVID-19 pandemic:

It is a mild to severe respiratory illness that is caused by corona virus characterized by fever, shortness of breath and may progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Socio-Demographic variables:

It refers to the personal variables of the parents such as age, sex.

ASSUMPTIONS:

· Parents may experience psychosocial stress during COVID-19 pandemic period to several factors.

· Parents may willingly to participate in the study.

HYPOTHESIS:

The hypothesis is tested as a level of significance at 0.05 level.

Ho: There is no significant difference between psychosocial parental stress experienced by fathers and mothers at 0.05 level of significance.

H1: There is significant association between psychosocial parental stress experienced by fathers and mothers at 0.05 level of significance.

DELIMITATION:

The study is limited to:

· The study is confined to a small group (60) of parents which limits the generalization.

· The study is delimited to parents who are not affected by COVID-19.

· The knowledge is only measured through perceived stress scale.

· The sample are taken from only 30 families in which the father and mother constitute from one family.

· Uses convenient sampling which limits the generalization of findings.

· The study is delimited to parents of age group of 40-60 years.

Projected Outcome:

A study is aimed to identifying the level of psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

A descriptive study was conducted to assess the stress and parenting during COVID-19 pandemic. The study was among 183 parents ages 18-55 with a child under the age of 18 years in the western united states. Test of group differences and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were employed to assess the relationship among demographic characteristics, COVID 19 risk factor, mental health factors, parental perceived stress and child abuse potential. The result was released that greater COVID 19 related stressors and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher potential perceived stress.²

A descriptive study was conducted to examining the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada. This study used a nationally representative, cross sectional survey of adult living in Canada (n=3000) to examine the mental impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Outcome among the parents with children less than 18 years old living at home (n=618) were compared with the rest of the sample. Data were collected via on online survey between 14 may to 29 may 2020.The result was 44.3% of parents with less than 18 years living at home reported worse mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 35.6% of respondents without children less than 18 years living at home.³

METHODOLOGY:

Research Design:

The research design of this study is non-experimental descriptive design.

Setting:

This study was conducted at selected rural areas in Kottayam district. This selection of sample in Kottayam district was ascertained based on the geographical proximity, feasibility of conducting this study and availability of the sample.

Population:

Population selected for the study include

· Parent’s who doesn’t affect covid-19 between the age of 40-60 years.

· Who are interested to participate in research study.

· 30 males and 30 females, from the selected rural areas in Kottayam district.

Sample:

Sample selected for the study are the parents in a selected for the study are the parents in a selected rural community at Kottayam district.

Sample Size:

Sample size articulated for this study include 60 parents (30 males ,30 females) selected from rural community of Kottayam district.

Criteria for Selection of Data:

Inclusion Criteria:

The following are the various inclusion criteria used in the present study;

· Parents who do not affect covid-19 between the age group of 40 -60 years.

· Who are interested to participate in research study.

Exclusion Criteria:

· Parents of above 60years.

· Parents of below 40years.

· Parents who are not interested in this research study.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES:

The samples were selected according to convenient sampling techniques.

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:

The instrument used is perceived stress scale.

Procedure for data collection:

Formal written permission will be obtained from the parents of selected rural community in Kottayam district for conducting the study. Investigator collected the data from 60 parents using the perceived stress scale. The purpose of the study and need for the cooperation explained to them. The samples selected using non probability convenient method. The psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic is assessed by providing perceived stress scale which include 20 statements to them.

Plan for Data Analysis:

The plan for data analysis as follow,

· Organization of data on master sheet/computer.

· Demographic variables analyzed in terms of frequency and percentage .

Analysis and Interpretation of Data:

This section deals with the distribution of sample according to their baseline variables such as age, gender, area of living, educational status of mother, educational status of father, occupation of mother, occupation of father, type of family, monthly income, facilities of internet in home, facilities used for online education.

Distribution of sample according to demographic data:

Demographic variables

Frequency

Percentage

1. Age in year

a. 40-45 years

b. 46-50 years

c. 51-55 years

d. 56-60 years

15.6

36.66

31.66

2. Sex

a. Male

b. Female

3. Area of living

a. Rural

b. Urban

76.66

23.33

4. Educational status of mother

a. High school grade or less

b. Graduate

c. Under graduate

d. Post graduate

28.33

6.66

5. Educational status of father

a. High school grade or less

b. Graduate

c. Under graduate

d. Post graduate

76.66

16.66

6.66

6. Occupation of mother

a. House wife

b. Non-governmental job

c. Governmental job

11.66

8.33

7. Occupation of father

a. Agriculture

b. Non-governmental job

c. Governmental job

51.66

13.33

8. Type of family

a. Nuclear family

b. Extended family

c. Joint family

18.33

1.66

9. Monthly income

a. <15000

b. 15001-20000

c. >20000

33.33

43.33

23.33

10. Facilities of internet in home

a. Mobile phone

b. WIFI

83.33

16.66

11. Facilities used for online education

a. Smart phone

b. Laptop

c. computer

93.33

6.66

Distribution of sample based on the psychosocial parental stress during COVID 19 Pandemic:

This section deals with the assessment of psychosocial parental stress during COVID 19 Pandemic. This was assessed with the help of rating scale. Rating scale contains 20 statements.

N=60

Psychosocial parental stress

Frequency

Percentage

Poor

Mild

Moderate

Severe

31.66

3.33

Grand total

100

Data shows that among 60 samples, 3 samples (5%) were having poor psychosocial parental stress, 19 samples (31.33%) were having mild psychosocial parental stress, 36 samples (60%) were having moderate psychosocial parental stress, 2samples (3.33%) were having severe psychosocial parental stress. There is a significant association between psychosocial parental stress during COVID 19 Pandemic. Hence the null hypothesis is rejected.

Association between the psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 Pandemic with selected demographic variables:

SL No

Demographic variables

Poor - Mild

Moderate -Severe

Chi-square

Inference

Age in years

40 -45 years and 46 -50 years

51 -55 years and 56 – 60 years

9.5

Not significant

Sex

Male

Female

0.07

Significant

Type of family

Nuclear family

Extended family and joint family

2.86

Not significant

Educational status of father

High school grade or less and graduate

Under graduate and post graduate

0.65

Significant

Educational status of mother

High school grade or less and graduate

Under graduate and post graduate

0.58

Significant

Monthly income

<15000 and 15001- 20000

>20000

1.54

Not significant

Association between the psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 Pandemic with selected demographic variables. The chi- square is computed with 1 degree of freedom at 0.05 level of significance. Here the calculated value of age in years is greater than table value. Hence H0 is rejected, that is, there is association between demographic variables such as sex, type of family, educational status of father, educational status of mother, monthly income with psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic.

DISCUSSION:

The present study is focused in assessing the psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 Pandemic. The discussion of this study is organized based on the objectives formulated.

· Findings related to socio-demographic variables.

· Findings related to distribution of sample based on psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 Pandemic.

· Findings related to association between selected socio-demographic variables and psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19.

· Findings related to socio-demographic variables:

The present study was conducted among selected rural areas in kottayam district with varying demographic variables such as age, sex, area of living, educational status of mother, educational status of father, occupation of mother, monthly income, facilities of internet in home, facilities used for online education. The data obtained revealed that 36.6% of parents who are participated in the study was in between the age of 46-50 years, 50% of samples are female and 50% of samples are male, majority of sample 76.6% were living in rural areas,65% of mothers had an education qualification as high school grade or less, 76.66% of fathers had on education qualification as high school grade or less ,80 % of mothers were house wife ,51.66% of fathers were non-governmental job,80% of parents from nuclear family, 43.33% of parents have monthly income of 15001-20000, 83.33% using mobile data for usage of internet at home,93.33% of children use smartphone for their online education.

· Findings related to distribution of sample based on psychosocial parental stress during COVID 19 Pandemic.

The findings of the present study shows that among 60 parents majority of sample,60% of parents were having moderate psychosocial parental stress,31.66% of parents were having mild psychosocial parental stress,5% of parents were having poor psychosocial parental stress,3.33% of parents were having severe psychosocial parental stress.

· Findings related to association between selected socio-demographic variables and psychosocial parental stress during COVID 19.

Association between the selected demographic variables such as age, Sex, educational status of mother, educational status of father, type of family, monthly income with psychosocial parental stress during the COVID 19 Pandemic. It was calculated with 1 degree of freedom at 0.05 level of significance. So there was no association between the selected variables and psychosocial parental stress.

CONCLUSION:

Following conclusion was drawn from the study. The study was aimed to assess the psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic in selected rural community at Kottayam district. It was found that out of 60 samples, 60% of parents were having moderate psychosocial parental stress. 31.66% of parents were having mild psychosocial parental stress, 5% of parents were having poor psychosocial parental stress, 3.33% of parents were having severe psychosocial parental stress. The hypothesis in the study was that there is association between psychosocial parental stress during COVID-19 pandemic with selected socio demographic variables at 0.05 level of significance.

NURSING IMPLICATIONS:

The findings of the present study have several implications in the field of nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research.

Nursing Education:

The college authority have to be aware of the cause of the test psychosocial stress in parents and various methods of stress reduction and prevention. The curriculum should be made in such way that the parents must be oriented to different treatment modalities which would help them deal with problems related to COVD-19.

Nursing Practice:

Nursing play vital role in health care system. Measures to prevent psychosocial stress have to be strengthened by emphasizing health education and awareness programme. Having knowledge in COVID-19 by student nurses will be helpful to practice it in their clinical area.

Nursing Administration:

Nursing administrator should take an initiative to create plans in providing stress reduction techniques about COVID-19 pandemic and health education for parents.

Nursing Research:

The findings of present study baseline for future study to build up and motivates for other investigator to conduct studies in under different living conditions. Research is the major factor in changing the practice, education and policy. Nurse who form an important cadre of health professional should take initiative to conduct research regarding various aspects of stress during COVID-19 pandemic among parents. Nursing research has a significant role in educational practices.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

On the basis of study findings the recommendations are:

· A similar study can be conducted with large samples so the findings can be generalized.

· Study can be conducted among other age group with variety of sample.

LIMITATIONS:

· Time was limited to only a short period.

· Selection of sample limited in a selected rural area.

· Being small size (60) the generation of result is limited.

· The knowledge is assessed using only limited number of questions.

· The participants were selected using convenient sampling.

REFERENCES:

1. Chowdhury S D, Oommen A M. Epidemiology of COVID -19. March 2020.

2. Gadermann AC. Thomas KC. Examining the impact of the covid 19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada. December 2020.

3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10804-021-09381-5

Received on 02.04.2022 Modified on 01.05.2022

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2022; 10(3):211-215.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2660.2022.00049