A1 Journal article (refereed)
How can early childhood education and care support families and prevent parental burnout during the COVID-19 crisis in Finland? (2023)

Sorkkila, M., Alasuutari, M., Saranko, L., & Aunola, K. (2023). How can early childhood education and care support families and prevent parental burnout during the COVID-19 crisis in Finland?. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2023.2266756

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Sorkkila, Matilda; Alasuutari, Maarit; Saranko, Lotta; Aunola, Kaisa

Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research

ISSN: 0031-3831

eISSN: 1470-1170

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 09/10/2023

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2023.2266756

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/89693

Abstract

We examined how early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers supported families during the Covid-19 lockdown and whether the extent and type of support were associated with parental burnout. An online survey was filled out by 521 Finnish parents (88% mothers), and the data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). A total of 81% of the parents were contacted by ECEC personnel during lockdown, and 19% were not contacted at all, although 9% would have wished for contact. The support consisted mainly of guidance for the child’s daily activities and communication via letters and greetings. Out of the parents, 33% found the support helpful, 36% sometimes helpful, and 31% nonhelpful. The more support the parents received, the less burned out they were. Particularly, food aid and advice to contact the ECEC centers, if needed, were negatively connected to parental burnout.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; families; families with children; parents; exhaustion; pandemics; COVID-19; supporting; communication; analysis of covariance

Free keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; parental burnout; early childhood education; digital communication; analysis of covariance

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 2