Examining the Relationships Between Workplace Policies and Practices, PTSD, and Distress Among Working Parents During the COVID-19 Crisis

While the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mortality and morbidity is becoming more understood, the severity of the long-term effects remains unknown: this includes medical sequelae of long COVID but also the impact of the social and economic upheaval on population health. Working parents faced many challenges during the pandemic, and the impact of these on the mental health and well-being of parents has been demonstrated. However, the extent of trauma-related symptoms among working parents who have faced unique challenges related to the virus itself and the social and structural consequences of containment efforts remains underexamined. Using data from a national panel survey of fworking parents (n = 1941), we explored the relationship between workplace policies and practices and COVID-19-related PTSD and psychological distress. Results demonstrate that nearly 50% of working parents experienced COVID-19-related PTSD as measured by the Impact of Events Scale-6, and over 60% had moderate to high levels of psychological distress. We examined mechanisms to understand the impact of job support on employees’ levels of PTSD and distress and found that both socio-demographic factors and workplace support related to levels of PTSD and distress among working parents. Our study highlights the distress and PTSD levels experienced by working parents in the early stages of the pandemic, underscoring the impact of workplace support on mental health outcomes.