Explaining the Parent-Child Relationship Based on Covid-19 Anxiety with the Intermediary Role of Emotional Security

Abstract

This study set out to explain the parent-children relationship based on Covid-19 anxiety with the intermediary role of emotional security. This research had a correlational design. The statistical population of the study comprised all female high school students in Azna in 2019-2020 school year. The study sample included 270 students who were selected by convenience sampling. The research instruments were comprised of the Parent-Child Relationship Survey (Fine, Moreland & Schwebel, 1983), Emotional Security Scale (Frey et al. 2008), and Covid-19 Anxiety Scale (Alipour et al., 2019). Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the data. The results showed that Covid-19 anxiety had a significant, direct effect on emotional security (β= -0.22, p<0.01) and parent-child relationship (β= -0.32, p<0.01). In addition, emotional security had a significant effect on parent-child relationship (β= 0.25, p<0.01). The results also indicated that emotional security played a mediatory role in the relationship between Covid-19 anxiety and parent-child relationship (Z= 3.72, p <0.01). Furthermore, the results revealed that Covid-19 anxiety directly and indirectly affects parent-child relationship through emotional security. Accordingly, the adverse impacts of Covid-19 anxiety on parent-children relationship can be reduced through the strategies to foster emotional security.

Keywords

• covid-19 anxiety
• emotional security
• parent-child relationship
• parents
• students