Families’ Worries during the First and Second COVID-19 Wave in Germany: Longitudinal Study in Two Population-Based Cohorts

Susanne Brandstetter, Tanja Poulain, Mandy Vogel, Christof Meigen, Michael Melter, Angela Köninger, Christian Apfelbacher, Wieland Kiess, Michael Kabesch, Antje Körner and Kids Study Group Kuno
Additional contact information
Susanne Brandstetter: University Children’s Hospital Regensburg, Steinmetzstr. 1-3, 93049 Regensburg, Germany
Tanja Poulain: LIFE Child, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Mandy Vogel: LIFE Child, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Christof Meigen: LIFE Child, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Michael Melter: University Children’s Hospital Regensburg, Steinmetzstr. 1-3, 93049 Regensburg, Germany
Angela Köninger: Member of the Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Steinmetzstr. 1-3, 93049 Regensburg, Germany
Christian Apfelbacher: Member of the Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Steinmetzstr. 1-3, 93049 Regensburg, Germany
Wieland Kiess: LIFE Child, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Michael Kabesch: University Children’s Hospital Regensburg, Steinmetzstr. 1-3, 93049 Regensburg, Germany
Antje Körner: LIFE Child, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Kids Study Group Kuno: KUNO Kids Study Group are indicated in the Acknowledgment section.

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: This study aimed to compare worries related to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in families with young children in two regions in Germany differently affected by the pandemic (Regensburg in Southeast Germany, Leipzig in Eastern Germany) during the first and the second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. 720 parents participating in the KUNO Kids health study in Regensburg ( n = 507) or the LIFE Child study in Leipzig ( n = 213) answered questions regarding COVID-19-related worries and trust in anti-pandemic policy measures during the first wave (spring 2020) and during the second wave (winter 2020/2021) of the pandemic. Ordinal mixed-effects models were performed to assess differences depending on region and time, adjusting for education and migration background. Participants worried most about the general economic situation and their family and least about their own health or financial situation. Worries about oneself, family, friends, hometown, and country were stronger during the second than during the first wave. In regional comparisons, worries about family, friends, and hometown increased more pronouncedly from wave 1 to wave 2 in Leipzig (OR ranging from 2.67 (95% CI 1.71–4.19) to 3.01 (95% CI 1.93–4.71), all p < 0.001) than in Regensburg (OR ranging from to 1.38 (95% CI 1.08–1.78) to 1.72 (95% CI 1.33–2.21), all p < 0.05), running parallel with the increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Trust in anti-pandemic policy measures, in contrast, decreased significantly between wave 1 and wave 2, with a stronger decrease in Regensburg (OR = 0.30 (95% CI 0.22–0.39), p < 0.001) than in Leipzig (OR = 0.91 (95% CI 0.59–1.41), n.s.). The degree of families’ COVID-19-related worries differs by region and time, which might be related to differences in infection rates and public interest. Regional differences should be taken into account when developing communication strategies and policy measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; families; children; worries; regional differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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