Parent health and wellbeing at home before and during COVID-19

Environments of parenthood are changing with increasing rates of dual-working households, more single-parent and non-traditional families, increasing cost of childcare, and growing reliance on online communities for information and support. However, everyday parenthood activities are still primarily conducted at “home”. In this paper, we draw on a study which initially aimed to explore parent health and wellbeing in everyday contexts before COVID-19, but the pandemic shaped the enquiry further. Our empirical research is based on an online survey with a sample of UK parents (n = 274). Findings presented here relate to qualitative data focused on descriptions of parenthood at home, analysed thematically. Our study reveals how everyday activities of parenthood, including intersections with work and socialisation, are experienced in and through the home in ways that impact health and wellbeing. Significantly, it connects home-life changes created during COVID-19 “lockdowns” with longer-term considerations of parent needs.