Subjective wellbeing in parents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) the subjective wellbeing of Australian parents raising children and adolescents (0–18 years) during April 2020 ‘stage three’ COVID-19 restrictions, in comparison with parents assessed over 18-years prior to the pandemic; and (2) socio-demographic and COVID-19 predictors of subjective wellbeing during the pandemic. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were from the COVID-19 Pandemic Adjustment Survey (CPAS, N = 2365 parents of a child 0–18 years, 8-28th April 2020); and a pre-pandemic national database containing 18 years of annual surveys collected in 2002–2019 (N = 17,529 parents). RESULTS: Levels of subjective wellbeing during the pandemic were considerably lower than ratings prior to the pandemic (Personal Wellbeing Index, mean[SD] = 65.3 [17.0]; compared to [SD] = 75.8 [11.9], p < 0.001). During the pandemic, lower subjective wellbeing was associated with low education (adjusted regression coefficient, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = −5.19, −0.93), language other-than-English (95% CI = -7.22, −1.30), government benefit (95% CI = -6.99, −0.96), single parents (95% CI = -8.84, −4.59), child neurodevelopmental condition (95% CI = -3.44, −0.76), parent physical/mental health problems (95% CI = -3.23, −0.67), COVID-environmental stressors (95% CI = -3.48, −2.44), and fear/worry about COVID-19 (95% CI = -8.13, −5.96). Unexpectedly, parent engagement with news media about the pandemic was associated with higher subjective wellbeing (95% CI = 0.35, 1.61). CONCLUSION: Subjective wellbeing in parents raising children aged 0–18 years appears to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions in Australia. Specific at-risk groups, for which government intervention may be warranted, include parents in socially disadvantaged contexts, parents with pre-existing mental health difficulties, and parents facing significant COVID-19-related work changes.