The aim of this paper is to illustrate the current development of the effect of COVID-19 on couples intending to start a family. The problems they face regarding marriage and childbearing during the pandemic should be elaborated and outlined. For this purpose, comparative situations of pandemical states from the past will be used as a reference. Using the assessment of current problems, future consequences of the pandemic on family formation will be sketched out. This paper seeks to examine the effect of the current pandemic as an exceptional situation on the emergence and formation of a family. This includes a brief outline of psychological health and its impact on relationship stability, fertility intentions, financial hardship, and effects on the quality of a marriage and the consequences of divorce.
Table of Contents
1. Overview of the structure
2. Literature review
3. Pathways to parenthood
4. Effects of COVID-19 on family formation
4.1 Psychological health and its impact on relationship stability
4.2 Fertility intentions
4.3 Financial hardship
4.4 The quality of a marriage- Consequences of divorce
5. Discussion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic functions as an exogenous shock affecting the family formation process of couples. It explores the interplay between pandemic-related stressors, such as financial instability and confinement, and their impact on relationship quality, fertility intentions, and long-term family planning decisions.
- Psychological impact of the pandemic on young adults and couples.
- The relationship between financial hardship and marital/partnership stability.
- Challenges regarding fertility intentions and access to reproductive healthcare.
- Comparative analysis of past pandemic/disaster states as references for current developments.
- Resilience and potential for posttraumatic growth within relationships.
Excerpt from the Book
Psychological health and its impact on relationship stability
The emergence of COVID-19 as a threatening disease has caused social implications such as lockdowns, rules and restrictions. According to the World Health Organization, feelings of awareness, anxiety, and stress are natural reactions to such an unaffectable change in life (Kluge, 2020). Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationships stability is not fully known yet, research suggests that cohabiting or marital relationships are exposed to an increased level of stress (Pietromonaco et al., 2020). As relationship quality is highly correlated with life satisfaction, stress can decrease both (Randall & Bodenmann, 2008). During the pandemic, people face external stressors which can, especially for couples, disrupt how they would interact with each other under common daily circumstances (Pietromonaco et al., 2020).
This depends on the one hand, on their general preexisting vulnerabilities including emotional health, personality, social status, or their life stage. On the other hand, COVID-19 related stressors which can be employment concerns as well as mental health problems such as depression, insecurities, and anxiety, contribute to that. In addition, cross-national lockdowns have been implemented in most countries of the world, which serve as a tool to control the disease (Dubey et al., 2020). Quarantining can be a huge psychological burden as the feeling of isolation and loss of control can promote anxiety, distress, frustration, anger, loneliness, mass hysteria etc. Moreover, couples are forced to spend much more time at home than usually, which can negatively affect cohabiter’s interaction (Pietromonaco et al., 2020, Prime et al., 2020). A phenomenon called stress spillover, causes external problems, such as stress caused by COVID-19, to be transferred to the relationship (Buck and Neff., 2012). Critical or argumentative behavior, poorer support or fatigued feelings can lead to increased hostility. Pietromonaco et al. (2020) therefore state that the higher those stressors and the less adaptive couples are to the unknown situation, the more likely they have to face the risk of a decline in relationship quality and satisfaction and as a more drastic result, divorce.
Summary of Chapters
Overview of the structure: This chapter outlines the paper's methodology, the scope of the literature used, and the thematic progression of the subsequent chapters.
Literature review: This section details the search strategy and selection criteria for existing research regarding the impact of the pandemic on family well-being and social structures.
Pathways to parenthood: This chapter reviews the theoretical principles of family formation, focusing on decision-making processes within cohabitations and marriages.
Effects of COVID-19 on family formation: This section analyzes specific pandemic-related pressures, including psychological strain, financial insecurity, and their combined effects on marital quality and fertility choices.
Discussion: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings, addresses the study's limitations, and suggests avenues for future inquiry.
Keywords
COVID-19, family formation, relationship stability, fertility intentions, psychological health, pandemic, financial hardship, social disruption, cohabitation, marriage, divorce, stress spillover, resilience, reproductive medicine, family planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the family formation process for couples intending to start a family.
Which thematic areas are central to this study?
Central themes include psychological well-being, the impact of confinement on relationship quality, financial stability as a prerequisite for family formation, and the postponement of fertility treatments.
What is the core research question?
The study seeks to answer: "To what extent are the effects of the corona pandemic affecting couples' family formation?"
What scientific methodology was applied?
The research is based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, using databases such as ScienceDirect, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, and applying the snowball technique to identify relevant sources.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body addresses the principles of family formation, the psychological effects of the pandemic, the influence of financial hardship, and the consequences of the pandemic on marital satisfaction and divorce rates.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include COVID-19, family formation, relationship stability, fertility intentions, psychological health, and pandemic-related financial hardship.
How does the pandemic influence fertility intentions specifically?
The pandemic introduces uncertainty and financial pressure, which, combined with recommendations to postpone non-essential fertility treatments, often leads couples to delay or cancel childbearing plans.
What is "stress spillover" in the context of this research?
Stress spillover refers to the phenomenon where external stressors, such as job loss or anxiety caused by the pandemic, are transferred into the relationship, negatively impacting interactions between partners.
What role does resilience play in surviving the pandemic?
Resilience and "posttraumatic growth" represent the ability of couples to maintain or even improve their well-being by developing positive coping strategies and a shared sense of connection during adverse times.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 2021, 2020 a Year of Reorientation. The Impact of COVID-19 on Family Formation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1015116
