Parents could use additional support during the pandemic, both emotionally and logistically.
But fathers are significantly more likely to say they need emotional support throughout the pandemic than mothers, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association.
Overall, 75% of parents with children under the age of 18 said they could have used more emotional support, which includes having a friend, family member, or mental health professional you can turn to when you have concerns or be upset, according to the APA The “Stress in America” report released Thursday.
More specifically, 82% of fathers said they needed more support than they were given since the pandemic began, while only 68% of mothers surveyed said the same.
So what about this discrepancy?
For starters, a lot of research has shown that men tend to have smaller social support networks than women, Dr. Lynn Bufka, principal director of transformation and quality of APA practices, tells CNBC Make It.
“A lot of the social relationships and social support of men usually come from work and their partners,” Bufka says.
With many people working remotely during the pandemic, there are fewer opportunities to interact with friends in the workplace.
Women are also less available to their partners during this time, because data suggests women have taken on more responsibilities during the pandemic, Bufka says.
In fact, a recent study of 31,141 people in five countries found that women, especially mothers, spent more time on “needs” such as caring for children and household chores during the pandemic than men.
Part of that has to do with how men and women socialize to divide themselves “in and out” of domestic roles, Bufka says. Another literature has shown that the person of a couple who is perceived to have the most flexible job tends to take on more responsibilities, according to her. (It is unclear how many of the 3,000 American adults included in the APA survey, which was conducted in mid-February, belong to same-sex or heterosexual couples).
“When you put it together, you have men who are more likely to trust their female partner, who has now taken on many more responsibilities during the pandemic,” Bufka says. “And men have less access to sources of support through work.”
On the other hand, mothers were more likely than fathers to say their mental health has worsened compared to before the pandemic, according to the study. Nearly half of mothers (47%) who have children at home doing remote learning reported that their mental health has worsened, while 30% of fathers with children at home said the same.
A separate survey published in December showed that working mothers are 28% more likely to suffer from exhaustion than fathers.
Ultimately, being stretched too thin has consequences in real life. With daycare and schools closed due to the pandemic, many women have been forced to quit their jobs due to rising demand at home. The total number of women who have left the workforce since the start of the pandemic exceeded 2.3 million in January.
Bufka encourages people who are able to help (perhaps those who do not have small children at home) to offer a helping hand to parents.
“Recognize that people who have young children who may be having problems may not necessarily know that you are available to play a little outside with the children,” he says.
For people with kids, “really think, is there anyone who can support us? How would that be? What would really make a difference?” she suggests.
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