An examination of multiple illness and social related stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child mental health; findings from a birth cohort in rural Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose: In an effort to improve preparation for future pandemics, researchers continue to examine the myriad psychosocial pathways through which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health. Moving beyond extant research on factors such as financial difficulties or social isolation, we present findings on two less documented pathways: (a) COVID illness and death within one’s social network and (b) experiencing pandemic-related basic needs stressors, beyond financial difficulties, on the mental health of mothers and children in South Asia. Methods: Data come from the 2021–2022 wave of the Bachpan birth cohort (6-year-old children, n = 814 mother-child dyads) in rural Pakistan. Multivariable ..