Influence of Family Communication on Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.616.981

Keywords:

stress disorders, communication, mental health, family relations, COVID-19.

Abstract

Objective: This descriptive-correlational study analyzed the relationship between family communication and perceived stress during the Covid-19 pandemic in Colombia.
Methods: The participants were 800 Colombians, between 18 and 91 years old (Mean = 33,91; Standard Deviation = 15,75), who responded with prior informed consent to three reliable instruments: Parent-Child Communication Scale (PACS), Perceived Stress Scale (EEP-10), and the Scale of Stressful Concerns in the Covid-19 Pandemic (EPEP).
Results: Findings revealed high levels of negative stress at the beginning and end of quarantine that had to do with economic, work, family, and health concerns. Family communication  proved to be a significant predictor of stress. In that sense, it was observed that open communication between household members is associated with a reduction in negative
stress (r = -,103***). However, when communication at home is mediated by frequent offenses (? = ,719 ***), and is combined with health concerns (? =. 723 ***), and family coexistence (? =, 657***), it increases predictively high negative stress by up to 37.9% of the total variance.
Conclusions: these findings suggest strengthening family dialogue and collective coping strategies to reduce stress and learn to better manage concerns in this pandemic context surrounded by fears and uncertainties. Finally, recommendations from the fields of psychology and communication in health are given to focus on preventive actions against high or chronic stress.

Author Biographies

Yanin Elena Santoya Montes, Investigadora grupo Desarrollo, Salud y Desempeño humano, Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar.

Magister en Neuropsicología (Universidad Simón Bolívar)

Psicologa,  especialista en psicología clínica, especialista en gerencia de servicios sociales, Magister en Neuropsicología.

Docente universidad tecnologica de Bolivar, programa de Psicología.

Docente, universidad San Buenaventura Cartagena, especialización en psicología clínica.

Docente, Fundación Tecnologico de Comfenalco, programa de psicología.

Miguel Garcés-Prettel, Universidad del Norte).

Doctor en Comunicación (Universidad del Norte). Profesor asociado Universidad Tecnológica
de Bolívar.

Pedro Vázquez Miraz, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar: Cartagena, Bolívar, CO

Doctor en Ciencias Sociales y del Comportamiento (Universidad de La Coruña). Profesor
asistente Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar.

Elías Geney Castro, Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar : Cartagena, Bolivar, CO

Doctor en Psicología (Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina). Profesor asistente
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar.

Published

2022-01-19

How to Cite

Santoya Montes, Y. E., Garcés-Prettel, M., Vázquez Miraz, P., & Geney Castro, E. (2022). Influence of Family Communication on Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Salud Uninorte, 37(3), 569–582. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.616.981

Issue

Section

Original Article

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