How coronavirus changed Australian family life
- Written by Megan Carroll, Senior research officer, Australian Institute of Family Studies
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COVID-19 has brought about big changes in Australia and across the world, with much attention focused on the way governments are responding to the health and economic challenges of the pandemic.
Interactions with family and friends have been the focus of many of the public health restrictions and have been identified as a source of spreading infection. Less attention has been paid to the role families and social networks have played in supporting each other through a difficult year.
Findings from the first wave of the Families in Australia Survey[1] have highlighted that Australians still turn to family for support in times of crisis.
The survey of 7,306 respondents, by the Australian Institute of Family Studies[2], ran from May 1 to June 9 2020, when most Australians were subject to multiple restrictions due to COVID. These forced them to spend more time with some family members, while separating them from others. The survey aimed to provide a better understanding of how Australian families adjusted during the pandemic.
Read more: Lonely in lockdown? You're not alone. 1 in 2 Australians feel more lonely since coronavirus[3]
New ways to connect
While limitations were placed on how families could meet in person, most people talked to family living elsewhere at least as often as before. A good proportion (44%) talked to them more than before. We heard stories of people connecting through new technologies, such as using video calls to share meals, or through more traditional means of sending care packages through the post.
In addition to social connections, family members living elsewhere were the primary source of help[4] for those who needed extra assistance. This help included practical assistance with groceries, errands and other care-giving, as well as financial and emotional support.
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References
- ^ Families in Australia Survey (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ Australian Institute of Family Studies (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ Lonely in lockdown? You're not alone. 1 in 2 Australians feel more lonely since coronavirus (theconversation.com)
- ^ primary source of help (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ connection to family (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ spending more time together (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ increase in quality time (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ financial impacts (aifs.gov.au)
- ^ We asked over 2,000 Australian parents how they fared in lockdown. Here's what they said (theconversation.com)
- ^ towardscovidnormal.com.au (towardscovidnormal.com.au)