Parents confined with a newborn: the pandemic also had positive effects

Authors: Alison Paradis, Ph. D., Emily-Helen Todorov, Natacha Godbout, Ph. D.

For parents, the Covid-19 pandemic and health measures have created new challenges, reducing their social support systems, threatening their financial security and limiting access to essential services.

The increase in mental health problems, alcohol consumption and suicidal thoughts during the pandemic is well documented among parents.

Yet we know little about the specific effects of Covid-19 on the parents of a newborn, and even less about the impacts on their relationship and parenting experience.

Our research into this question shows that the consequences of the pandemic may not only be negative for these parents.