The Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescents' Daily Lives: The Role of Parent-Child Relationship Quality

Janssens, Julie J; Achterhof, Robin; Lafit, Ginette; Bamps, Eva; Hagemann, Noëmi; Hiekkaranta, Anu P; Hermans, Karlijn S F M; Lecei, Aleksandra; Myin-Germeys, Inez; Kirtley, Olivia J

COVID-19 lockdown measures have profoundly impacted adolescent' daily life, with research suggesting an increase in irritability, stress, loneliness, and family conflict. A potential protective factor is parent-child relationship quality; however, no studies have investigated this. We used data from SIGMA, a longitudinal, experience sampling cohort study, in which N = 173 adolescents aged 11 to 20 were tested before and during COVID-19. Multilevel analyses showed decreased daily-life irritability and increased loneliness from pre- to mid-pandemic. Daily-life stress levels were unchanged. Relationship quality was negatively associated with irritability and loneliness and buffered against the increase in loneliness. Effect sizes were small and do not support a strong effect of the first lockdown on irritability, stress, loneliness, and family conflict in adolescents.