Psychological stress experienced by parents and posttraumatic emotional stress experienced by children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine psychological stress experienced by parents and posttraumatic emotional stress experienced by children during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: The study has cross-sectional design and included parents who have 3- to 10 year-old children studying at kindergartens and primary schools under the Yozgat Directorate of National Education in Cekerek, Turkey, and who volunteered to participate in the study. The study was completed with 1,109 parents. School administrators were informed of the study and an online data collection form was distributed through parent WhatsApp groups. RESULTS: Fathers at or above the age of 37 were found to have lower Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10-PDS) scores (p < .05). In the study, K10-PDS scores of parents working as health care employees and Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) scores of their children were significantly higher than those of other groups (p < .05). K10-PDS scores of parents with children in the 3-6 age group who had behavioral changes, increased screen usage, and disturbed sleep and diet were found to be higher than those of other groups (p < .05). According to regression analysis K10-PDS scores of parents significantly explained 34% of children's PEDS score (R² = .340) (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study determined that COVID-19 causes children to experience posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition, the study found increased stress levels of parents and children experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).