New analysis highlights the increasing pressures on parents of under-fives over the last 20 years, and warns that financial pressures will be heightened by the cost-of-living crisis.
Published by the Nuffield Foundation, the analysis of over 100 studies, finds that parents are increasingly under pressure as a result of expectations, a lack of time, the balance of paid employment and providing care for young children, poverty and inadequate housing. It warns that these pressures on parents are putting young children's wellbeing and development at risk.
The analysis highlights how the pandemic negatively affected parental mental health and increased inter-parental conflict at a time when parents had less access to support. Also, how poverty and poor housing can lead to parental stress, depression and conflict, which could impede effective parenting, and, in turn, affect child outcomes.
