Research report 2024 - Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Pandemic childcare burden: Study reveals increased mental health strain on mothers
Authors
Hiekel, Nicole; Kühn, Mine
Departments
Max-Planck-Forschungsgruppe Geschlechterungleichheiten und Fertilität, Max-Planck-Institut für demografische Forschung (MPIDR) (Hiekel)
Department of Sociology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, und Max-Planck-Institut für demografische Forschung (MPIDR) (Kühn)
Department of Sociology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, und Max-Planck-Institut für demografische Forschung (MPIDR) (Kühn)
Summary
During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents were suddenly without formal childcare, which put considerable pressure on mothers in particular. A recent study from the MPI for Demographic Research (MPIDR) examines the childcare arrangements changes during the pandemic and the subsequent impact on parents‘ mental health. Mothers who continued to be primarily caregivers for their children reported increased stress and exhaustion during the pandemic. In contrast, fathers experienced mental health benefits when their female partner continued to take the majority of childcare responsibilities.