Fear of COVID-19 and parental violence: The mediating role of parental burnout and child perceived as difficult

Perron-Tremblay, R., Clément, M.-È. et Dubois-Comtois, K. (2023). Fear of COVID-19 and parental violence: The mediating role of parental burnout and child perceived as difficult. Child Abuse and Neglect, 143 . ISSN 0145-2134 DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106284

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Résumé

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a worldwide increase in the incidence of child abuse. Studies show that the pandemic context contributes to exacerbate several risk factors usually associated with the use of violent disciplinary practices. Objective: This study aims to better understand the role of parental burnout and child perceived as difficult as a parental stressor in the link between fear of COVID-19 and the use of parental violence (minor and severe physical violence and repeated psychological aggression). Participants: The sample includes 467 mothers living in Québec (Canada) with a child aged 5 or less. Method: An online questionnaire, administered one year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Québec (March to May 2021), was used to measure parental violence, parental burnout, parental stress related to the perception of the child as difficult and fear of COVID-19. Serial mediation analyses were performed. Results: The main analyses confirmed the indirect association between fear of COVID-19 and the three forms of parental violence studied, through parental burnout and the child perceived as difficult. Unlike physical violence (minor and severe), the association between fear of COVID-19 and repeated psychological aggression is explained only by parental burnout. Conclusions: This study has identified new mechanisms that allow a better understanding of processes underlying parental violence during the pandemic. It also shows that parental violence can also occur in low-risk families. It is crucial to develop strategies to prevent the use of violent disciplinary practices in future socio-health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Type de document:	Article
Mots-clés libres:	COVID-19 Difficult child Parental burnout Parental stress Parental violence
Date de dépôt:	08 juill. 2026 15:16
Dernière modification:	08 juill. 2026 15:16
Version du document déposé:	Version officielle de l'éditeur
URI:	https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/13027

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