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Covid as a catalyst? Exploring gendered parenthood and work-family development through the pandemic

Cox, Laura LU orcid (2024)
Abstract
This thesis explored gendered parenthood and parents’ experiences of their work- family interface through the COVID-19 pandemic. This thesis draws on decades of analysis of gendered labor division, father involvement, and the work-family interface to understand developments and tensions before the pandemic. It then positions the pandemic as a global ‘developmental event’ due to the restrictions imposed to contain the virus, that in turn overhauled family and work domains. This thesis contributes original empirical material regarding parents’ experiences of their work-family interface during and since the pandemic. The topic is approached primarily from a psychological standpoint, focusing on individuals’ meaning making and psychological... (More)
This thesis explored gendered parenthood and parents’ experiences of their work- family interface through the COVID-19 pandemic. This thesis draws on decades of analysis of gendered labor division, father involvement, and the work-family interface to understand developments and tensions before the pandemic. It then positions the pandemic as a global ‘developmental event’ due to the restrictions imposed to contain the virus, that in turn overhauled family and work domains. This thesis contributes original empirical material regarding parents’ experiences of their work-family interface during and since the pandemic. The topic is approached primarily from a psychological standpoint, focusing on individuals’ meaning making and psychological needs, however this thesis also draws on discussions from multiple fields, including sociology, gender studies, and human resources.

Paper 1 examined the experiences and mental health outcomes of parents in the antenatal (pre-birth) period in Sweden, using measurements of depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy (N=378). Many participants (n=212) provided qualitative open-ended survey responses which were analyzed using Content Analysis, leading to three categories of Isolation, Concerns of Exclusion and Positives. The categories were then transformed into quantitative variables and analyzed with the standardized measures of mental health. Results indicated that Isolation and Positives were significantly related to depression and anxiety and that Concerns of Exclusion were significantly related to parents’ self-efficacy.

Paper 2 explored mothers’ experiences in three countries (Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States) using qualitative open-ended survey responses from 193 mothers of children aged 0-18 years. Using reflexive Thematic Analysis, we generated four major themes of COVID-related stress, Support deficit, Improved family interactions, and Contented mindset: Taking stock. Core findings were that both challenges in support and positives of spending more time together were reported across the three countries.

Paper 3 focused on fathers’ experiences in Sweden before, during, and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight fathers, and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to generate three themes: Fatherhood as protected and restrained before and during COVID, COVID as an opportunity for introspection and COVID as an opportunity for better balance. Core insights were the importance of remote work flexibility for managing work-family life, and the role of social interaction in the workplace.

This thesis contributes three core messages focusing on the consequences of excluding fathers during the transition to parenthood, the overburdening of mothers, and the potential for transformation of the work-family interface through the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Att bli förälder är en stor omställning i livet och kan förändra arbetssituationen, relationer och den egna personliga utvecklingen. Föräldraskap upplevs ofta som starkt könsbundet och kvinnor över hela världen tar på sig mer hushållsarbete och barnomsorg än män, även i Sverige. Trots att Sverige har en generös och könsneutral föräldraledighet finns det fortfarande ojämlikheter i hur föräldrar hanterar arbete och familjeliv. Covid-19 pandemin ledde till stora förändringar när det gäller distansarbete och tid i hemmet, vilket i sin tur kan leda till förändringar av dessa befintliga ojämlikheter.

Den här avhandlingen undersöker hur mödrar och fäder har upplevt sitt föräldraskap under och efter pandemins början i samband med de... (More)
Att bli förälder är en stor omställning i livet och kan förändra arbetssituationen, relationer och den egna personliga utvecklingen. Föräldraskap upplevs ofta som starkt könsbundet och kvinnor över hela världen tar på sig mer hushållsarbete och barnomsorg än män, även i Sverige. Trots att Sverige har en generös och könsneutral föräldraledighet finns det fortfarande ojämlikheter i hur föräldrar hanterar arbete och familjeliv. Covid-19 pandemin ledde till stora förändringar när det gäller distansarbete och tid i hemmet, vilket i sin tur kan leda till förändringar av dessa befintliga ojämlikheter.

Den här avhandlingen undersöker hur mödrar och fäder har upplevt sitt föräldraskap under och efter pandemins början i samband med de tillfälliga förändringar i vardagslivet som pandemin förde med sig. Avhandlingen består av tre artiklar som beskriver resultaten från enkäter och intervjuer där föräldrars tankar och upplevelser har undersökts.

Den första artikeln undersökte blivande föräldrar som väntade barn under pandemin i Sverige, och deras psykiska hälsa. Den andra artikeln utforskade mödrars upplevelser i Sverige, USA och Storbritannien. Den tredje artikeln undersökte pappors upplevelser av sitt föräldraskap i en svensk kontext. Resultaten visar att många föräldrar upplevde pandemin som positiv, eftersom de fick mer tid tillsammans som familj, och resultaten visade att de som nämnde positiva saker upplevde bättre psykisk hälsa. Mammorna kände sig dock överväldigade av ansvaret i hemmet och papporna kände sig utelämnade från upplevelsen av att bli förälder. Oron för att papporna skulle lämnas utanför förlossningsprocessen gick hand i hand med att föräldrarna kände sig mindre trygga.

Avhandlingen belyser vikten av att aktivt inkludera föräldrar som inte är födande föräldrar mer i de tidiga stadierna av graviditeten om båda föräldrarna vill det och vikten av distansarbetsalternativ för att hjälpa föräldrar att hantera både arbete och familj. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Beigi, Mina, University of Southampton
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
COVID-19, Gendered Parenthood, Work-Family Interface, Qualitative, Mixed-methods, Family, Parenthood, Gender
pages
102 pages
publisher
Lund University
defense location
Socialhögskolans hörsal (Sh128) Allhelgona kyrkogata 8, Lund
defense date
2024-09-24 13:15:00
ISBN
978-91-8104-125-5
978-91-8104-126-2
project
Föräldrars upplevelser av konflikter och berikande mellan familjeliv och arbetsliv: En undersökning av hur gränssnittet mellan familj och arbete beskrivs under och efter covid-19-pandemin
EVIDENCE over CONVICTION: Young children's DEVELOPMENTof EMOTIONAL SECURITY and ADJUSTMENT when they grow up in JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY with SHARED RESIDENCE (växelvis boende)
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
516a2497-1341-4cf6-b13e-db681c44037a
date added to LUP
2024-08-09 15:31:51
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:05:15
@phdthesis{516a2497-1341-4cf6-b13e-db681c44037a,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explored gendered parenthood and parents’ experiences of their work- family interface through the COVID-19 pandemic. This thesis draws on decades of analysis of gendered labor division, father involvement, and the work-family interface to understand developments and tensions before the pandemic. It then positions the pandemic as a global ‘developmental event’ due to the restrictions imposed to contain the virus, that in turn overhauled family and work domains. This thesis contributes original empirical material regarding parents’ experiences of their work-family interface during and since the pandemic. The topic is approached primarily from a psychological standpoint, focusing on individuals’ meaning making and psychological needs, however this thesis also draws on discussions from multiple fields, including sociology, gender studies, and human resources.<br/><br/>Paper 1 examined the experiences and mental health outcomes of parents in the antenatal (pre-birth) period in Sweden, using measurements of depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy (N=378). Many participants (n=212) provided qualitative open-ended survey responses which were analyzed using Content Analysis, leading to three categories of Isolation, Concerns of Exclusion and Positives. The categories were then transformed into quantitative variables and analyzed with the standardized measures of mental health. Results indicated that Isolation and Positives were significantly related to depression and anxiety and that Concerns of Exclusion were significantly related to parents’ self-efficacy.<br/><br/>Paper 2 explored mothers’ experiences in three countries (Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States) using qualitative open-ended survey responses from 193 mothers of children aged 0-18 years. Using reflexive Thematic Analysis, we generated four major themes of COVID-related stress, Support deficit, Improved family interactions, and Contented mindset: Taking stock. Core findings were that both challenges in support and positives of spending more time together were reported across the three countries.<br/><br/>Paper 3 focused on fathers’ experiences in Sweden before, during, and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight fathers, and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to generate three themes: Fatherhood as protected and restrained before and during COVID, COVID as an opportunity for introspection and COVID as an opportunity for better balance. Core insights were the importance of remote work flexibility for managing work-family life, and the role of social interaction in the workplace.<br/><br/>This thesis contributes three core messages focusing on the consequences of excluding fathers during the transition to parenthood, the overburdening of mothers, and the potential for transformation of the work-family interface through the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.}},
  author       = {{Cox, Laura}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8104-125-5}},
  keywords     = {{COVID-19; Gendered Parenthood; Work-Family Interface; Qualitative; Mixed-methods; Family; Parenthood; Gender}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Covid as a catalyst? Exploring gendered parenthood and work-family development through the pandemic}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/192837972/E-spikning_Laura_Cox.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}