Social Class and Changes in Australian Women's Affect and Alcohol Consumption During COVID-19.

Introduction: Before the pandemic, mid-life women in Australia were among the "heaviest" female alcohol consumers, giving rise to myriad preventable health risks. This paper uses an innovative model of social class within a sample of Australian women to describe changes in affective states and alcohol consumption patterns across two time points during COVID-19. Methods: Survey data were collected from Australian mid-life women (45-64 years) at two time points during COVID-19-May 2020 (N = 1,218) and July 2020 (N = 799). We used a multi-dimensional model for measuring social class across three domains-economic capital (income, property and assets), social capital (social contacts and occupational prestige of those known socially), and cultural capital (level of participation in various cultural activities). Latent class analysis allowed comparisons across social classes to changes in affective states and alcohol consumption patterns reported at the two time points using alcohol consumption patterns as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and its component items. Results: Seven social classes were constructed, characterized by variations in access to capital. Affective states during COVID-19 differed according to social class. Comparing between the survey time points, feeling fearful/anxious was higher in those with high economic and cultural capital and moderate social capital ("emerging affluent"). Increased depression was most prominent in the class characterized by the highest volumes of all forms of capital ("established affluent"). The social class characterized by the least capital ("working class") reported increased prevalence of uncertainty, but less so for feeling fearful or anxious, or depressed. Women's alcohol consumption patterns changed across time during the pandemic. The "new middle" class-a group characterized by high social capital (but contacts with low prestige) and minimal economic capital-had increased AUDIT-C scores. Conclusion: Our data shows the pandemic impacted women's negative affective states, but not in uniform ways according to class. It may explain increases in alcohol consumption among women in the emerging affluent group who experienced increased feelings or fear and anxiety during the pandemic. This nuanced understanding of the vulnerabilities of sub-groups of women, in respect to negative affect and alcohol consumption can inform future pandemic policy responses designed to improve mental health and reduce the problematic use of alcohol. Designing pandemic responses segmented for specific audiences is also aided by our multi-dimensional analysis of social class, which uncovers intricate differences in affective states amongst sub-groups of mid-life women.

Psychological, sociocultural and economic coping strategies of mothers or female caregivers of children with a disability in Belu district, Indonesia.

Caring for children with a disability can cause a range of psychological and socioeconomic challenges for parents and caregivers, such as anxiety, depression, inability to find affordable and appropriate childcare, loss of income and expenses related to disability specific treatment. As part of a study exploring the impacts of childhood disability on mothers or female caregivers and families, and the copy strategies they used, this paper describes strategies employed by mothers or female caregivers to cope with challenges associated with childhood disability within their family in Belu district, Indonesia. A qualitative approach using one-on-one in-depth interviews was used to collect data from participants (n = 22) who were recruited using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and imported to NVivo 12 for analysis. A qualitative framework analysis was used to guide data analysis. The conceptual framework of coping strategies guided the conceptualisation and discussion of the findings. The findings showed that active psychological coping strategies, including cognitive or acceptance strategies, knowledge of both health condition and socio-academic related development of children with a disability, and family relationship and support, were used by the participants to cope with psychological challenges facing them. Self-reliance and religious/spiritual coping strategies were also utilised. Sociocultural strategies, such as social withdrawal or disengagement, professional support and culture-based support, were used by the participants to cope with social impacts, stigma, and discrimination associated with childhood disability. Participants also reported using financial strategies such as selling of family assets to cope with the economic challenges. The findings indicate the need for programs and interventions that address the needs of mothers and female caregivers and their families, to assist with effectively managing the significant challenges they face when caring for a child with a disability. Further studies are needed, with a larger number of participants and the inclusion of fathers or male caregivers, in order to better understand the broader coping experience of childhood disability impacts within families.

The psychosocial and economic impacts on female caregivers and families caring for children with a disability in Belu District, Indonesia.

The current study aimed to understand psychosocial and economic impacts of female caregivers and families caring for children with a disability in Belu district, Indonesia. A qualitative inquiry employing one-on-one in-depth interviews was used to collect data from participants (n = 22). Data analysis was guided by a framework analysis for qualitative research. Social implications framework and the economic consequence of disease and injury framework were used to guide the conceptualisation, analysis and discussion of the findings. Findings indicated that female caregivers of children with a disability experienced significant psychosocial challenges. These included feeling frustrated, sad, angry, worried, inferior and insecure due to rejection of their children by other kids with no disability. Poor physical conditions of and negative labelling given to their children and the fear of what the future held for their children with a disability added yet another layer of psychosocial challenges experienced by these women. Separation or divorce and reduced social interaction and engagement in the community were expressed social impact loaded to these women resulting from poor acceptability of the children by their fathers, increased time spent caring and discriminatory and stigmatising attitudes against their children with a disability. The participants also experienced economic impacts, such as increased health and transport expenses, loss of jobs and productivity, and lack of savings. The findings indicate the need for programs and interventions addressing the needs of mothers or female caregivers and families with disabled children. Further studies with large number of participants covering mothers, fathers and caregivers to understand broader experiences and the need of caring for children with a disability are recommended.