As optimism returns, a reminder that life after COVID-19 will be stressful for many

Life during the COVID-19 pandemic has been uniquely stressful for parents with children at home. For some parents, schools welcoming children back for in-person instruction — even for limited schedules in many cases — has provided a long-awaited measure of relief and cause for optimism.ButBridget Callaghan, a  UCLA assistant professor of psychology, said adjusting to life after COVID-19 could be stressful for many.“Parents should be patient and not expect everything to go back to how it was before,” Callaghan said. “Post–COVID-19 will be an adjustment. ”A few months after the pandemic and stay-at-home orders altered life as we know it, Callaghan (pronouncedCAL-a-ghin) began researching how family dynamics were being affected by the changes.Susie Lang PhotosBridget CallaghanSome children have fallen far behind in their schoolwork, and COVID-19 has increased inequities between rich and poor families. Parents should realize the coming post-pandemic transition might be challenging for their children. Her advice to parents: Be supportive and reassuring, especially to children who have little other social support.Not surprisingly, perhaps, children Callaghan interviewed in mid-2020 expressed an overwhelming longing for social connections and a return to school. In addition, Callaghan observed that the children of parents who are more fearful about COVID-19 tend to have more fears and anxiety about the pandemic than the children of calmer parents.“Parents are the le...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news