newswire: 8/5/2020
- According to a new study, half of parents have cried due to feelings of stress or frustration recently, compared to only one-third of Americans without children at home. The strain of parenting during the pandemic is proving to be particularly difficult for moms, who report frequently feeling lonely and overwhelmed. (American Enterprise Institute)
- NH: It’s safe to say that working parents, particularly those with young children, are generally shorter on time than those without kids. But with schools, daycares, and playgrounds closed, the pandemic has sent their responsibilities into overdrive. Parents were largely left on their own to figure out how to handle 40 additional hours of schooling and child care--only to learn that their kids will only be returning to school part-time, or not at all, in the fall.
- The news has been filled with stories of the toll the pandemic is taking on working parents. And now there are new numbers, courtesy of the American Enterprise Institute. Their survey, which was conducted May 21-June 5, paints a grim picture. Parents with children in the household are more likely than Americans without children to report feeling lonely (42% vs. 35%), depressed (44% vs. 32%), and overwhelmed (50% vs. 33%) at least a few times a week. They’re also significantly more likely to feel like they don’t have sufficient time for themselves (52% vs. 28%). All of these figures are even higher among parents of younger children.
- The pandemic pressure is also weighing more heavily on moms than dads, with double-digit differences in their responses. Fully 51% of moms report feeling depressed, for instance, compared to 35% of dads. And most moms (60%) say they don’t have enough time for themselves, while 41% of dads say the same. This gap is reflected in the amount of household work they’re doing, with moms saying they spend more hours on homeschooling, child care, and housework.
- Parents with minor children make up nearly a third of the U.S. workforce. It’s estimated that close to 10% of economic activity won’t happen as long as schools and daycares remain closed. Another recent survey found that parents are losing an average of eight hours of work a week to address their children’s needs. At the start of lockdown, many families tried to look on the bright side, seeing it as a chance to spend time together. But as the months wear on and frustration mounts, it’s becoming increasingly clear that something has to give.
