Children's perspectives on friendships and socialization during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative approach.

BACKGROUND: Good quality friendships and relationships are critical to the development of social competence and are associated with quality of life and mental health in childhood and adolescence. Through social distancing and isolation restrictions, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the way in which youth socialize and communicate with friends, peers, teachers and family on a daily basis. In order to understand children's social functioning during the pandemic, it is essential to gather information on their experiences and perceptions concerning the social changes unique to this period. The objective of this study was to document children and adolescents' perspectives regarding their social life and friendships during the COVID-19 pandemic, through qualitative interviews. METHODS: Participants (N = 67, 5-14 years) were recruited in May and June 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via a videoconferencing platform. A thematic qualitative analysis was conducted based on the transcribed and coded interviews (NVivo). RESULTS: The upheavals related to the pandemic provoked reflection among the participants according to three main themes, each of which included sub-themes: (1) the irreplaceable nature of friendship, (2) the unsuspected benefits of school for socialization and (3) the limits and possibilities of virtual socialization. CONCLUSIONS: The collection of rich, qualitative information on the perspectives of children and adolescents provides a deeper understanding of the consequences of the pandemic on their socialization and psychological health and contributes to our fundamental understanding of social competence in childhood.

History of perinatal loss: A study of psychological outcomes in mothers and fathers after subsequent healthy birth.

BACKGROUND: The loss of an expected child is a psychologically difficult and potentially traumatic life event. While most women will become pregnant again within a year following the loss, data are limited regarding the mental health of parents with a history of perinatal loss, especially in the period following the birth of a subsequent healthy child. This study, therefore, investigated the relation between perinatal loss and mothers' and fathers' psychological symptoms and parenting stress 6-months after the birth of a healthy child. METHODS: A community sample of 92 mother-father dyads living in a Canadian city and having a 6-month-old biological infant were asked to complete questionnaires measuring their history of perinatal losses (55 parents reporting at least one loss) and their psychological symptoms and parenting stress. RESULTS: Mothers and fathers who have experienced a perinatal loss reported more psychological symptoms and parenting stress. Mothers were more likely to report psychological symptoms and parenting stress compared to fathers, but the magnitude of the relation between perinatal losses and psychological outcomes were comparable for mothers and fathers. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of the study include the use of a small community sample with low generalizability and low levels of psychological symptoms and stress. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the experience of a perinatal loss might have negative consequences on the psychological wellbeing of parents even after the birth of a healthy child.