Mothers’ psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemics: three-waves longitudinal study

TL;DR

This study tracks how Indonesian mothers' mental health changed during the pandemic, finding that anxiety and stress decreased over time, while depression remained stable.

Contribution

The study provides longitudinal insights into psychological distress among Indonesian mothers during different pandemic phases.

Findings

Depression levels remained constant over the pandemic phases.

Anxiety and stress levels decreased over time.

Older mothers and those married longer reported lower stress.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the psychological well-being of populations worldwide. Despite this, there is a paucity of research on the specific psychological distress experienced by mothers during this crisis. This study aims to address this gap by examining the trajectories of psychological distress experienced by Indonesian mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A sample of 108 mothers aged 25 to 65 (mean = 38.9, SD = 7.3) participated in three waves of data collection during the lockdown phase, adaptation phase, and new normal phases of the pandemic. Participants completed the Indonesian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-18 (DASS-18) questionnaire to assess their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Depression remained constant while anxiety and stress levels decreased over time. Notably, older participants reported lower levels of stress than their younger counterparts, and those who had been married for a longer time reported lower levels of stress.

This study provides critical insights into the mental health status of Indonesian mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of considering contextual factors such as age and length of marriage in interventions and support programs.

Figures