How gender, race, and sexual identity shaped parenting stress during COVID-19
Unequal Parenthoods: Population Perspectives on Gender, Race, and Sexual Minority Disparities in Family Stress and Health During Crises
This work looks at how being a mom or dad, your racial or ethnic background, and sexual identity affected parents' stress, well‑being, and parent‑child relationships during the COVID‑19 era.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320703 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a large, U.S. population survey called the National Couples’ Health and Time Study (NCHAT) and daily time‑diary information to describe parents' day‑to‑day experiences during the pandemic. The team focuses on parents aged about 20–60 who had children under 18, with extra sampling of Black, Latinx, Asian, and sexual minority families. They compare levels of parenting stress, well‑being, and parent–child relationship quality across gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual identity and test whether marginalization, socioeconomic status, or adverse childhood experiences explain differences. The goal is to link what happened to parents during COVID and periods of racial trauma to possible effects on child health and family functioning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are U.S. parents (about ages 20–60) who lived with a partner and had children under 18, especially those who identify as racial/ethnic minorities or sexual minorities.
Not a fit: People without children, parents living outside the United States, or those far outside the 20–60 age range are unlikely to see direct, personal benefits from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help target support and policies to reduce parenting stress and improve family well‑being for groups most affected by crises like COVID‑19.
How similar studies have performed: Previous surveys during COVID found higher stress among mothers and marginalized groups, but this project is larger and adds detailed time‑diary data to better understand daily mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kamp Dush, Claire M — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Kamp Dush, Claire M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.