How Parents and Children Spent Time During Pandemic? Exploratory Study of Home Activity Patterns and Parental Mental Health COVID-19 Japan
ISBN: 978-1-80117-645-3, eISBN: 978-1-80117-644-6
Publication date: 16 September 2022
Abstract
In Japan, the first state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic was declared from April to May 2020, and it was recommended that people stay home. In this study, parents were asked (using an internet questionnaire) how their children spend time at home compared to their usual activities during this period. We conducted a cluster analysis of change patterns of indoor activities among preschool children aged three to six years (n = 1.036). The cluster analysis examined whether watching videos, playing video games, engaging in active play, taking part in art activities, and joint reading of books/picture books increased or decreased compared to normal times. Two-step cluster analysis suggested five subgroups: (1) all indoor activities were almost the same as usual, (2) video viewing and art activities increased, and active play decreased, (3) video viewing, art activities, and active play increased, (4) video viewing, computer games, art activities increased, and active play declined, and (5) video viewing and computer games increased, and all other activities decreased. Of these subgroups, it is considered that particular attention should be paid to the developmental risks of Clusters 4 and 5, who might have spent more time doing digital activities and taken part in fewer interactive activities. In addition, it was indicated that these patterns were related to parental mental health and demographic characteristics. It remains to examine the support in such case considering the possibility that less participation in interactive activities and worse mental health of parents may have negative effects on development of children.
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Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank Kiyomi AKITA, Professor, Gakushuin University, Faculty of Letters, Toshihiko ENDO, Professor, the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Education, Sachiko ASAI, Professor, the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Education, Yumi YODOGAWA, Associate Professor, Chiba University, Faculty of Education, for supporting this research. The work was supported by KAKENHI(JP19H05590) and POPLAR Publishing Co., Ltd.
Citation
Nozawa, S. and Takahashi, M. (2022), "How Parents and Children Spent Time During Pandemic? Exploratory Study of Home Activity Patterns and Parental Mental Health COVID-19 Japan", Schutter, S., Harring, D. and Bass, L.E. (Ed.) Children, Youth and Time (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Vol. 30), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 49-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1537-466120220000030003
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022 Sachiko Nozawa and Midori Takahashi