Page 110 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Parent-adolescent communication about COVID-19 safety

“My children did not know about the virus until I children. Mbachu et al. (2020) similarly found that parents
called them together and discussed it with them. It are often triggered to talk about sex-related matters with
was after the discussion that many of them started their adolescent children by the unpleasant or tragic news
reiterating what they have heard from me and even revolving around pregnant adolescents or abortion-related
said that they heard it from other sources.” (Female, death. However, parents’ decision to initiate health-related
44 years old, health worker) discussions only when they are inundated with tragic news
can have disastrous consequences and delay intervention.
4. Discussion
Fear is centered on the discussion between parents
This study explored parent-adolescent communication and adolescents about the virus. The media coverage of
about COVID-19. The findings support the key role of the COVID-19 pandemic has intimidated many parents.
parents in the effort of curbing the spread of coronavirus. The panicking parents in turn aroused fear in their child
After the parents learned about COVID-19 and the safety during the discussions about the virus. Apuke & Omar
precautions, they talked to their children and requested (2021) similarly reported that television stations in Nigeria
them to comply with the safety measures, strengthening tended to cover the news about coronavirus using negative
the adolescents’ adherence to safety measures and instilling and alarming tones; however, such tones are perhaps
the importance of basic hygiene in their children. It has uncalled for if it is not necessary to draw the attention
been shown that frequent parent-adolescent conversations nationwide to the severity of the pandemic. However, the
about the pandemic may increase adherence to health- fear- or horror-infused news can incite irrational actions
protective behaviors (Peplak et al., 2021). in some audiences. In this study, the fear and panic factor
All the respondents believe that COVID-19 exists and is may explain why parents hit or shout at their children to
a deadly infectious disease capable of causing mayhem. The enforce compliance with the safety measures publicized
way media describe the COVID-19 informed parents’ belief by the media. It may also explain why parents approached
that the virus is dangerous. Although some parents were the discussion desperately using emotions and religious
not aware of the severity of the disease, their commitment allegories to enforce compliance with the safety measures.
to safeguarding their children served as a motivation for Furthermore, the discussion between parent and
them to enforce the safety guidelines. Ilesanmi & Afolabi adolescent was mostly horizontal, top-down fashion where
(2020) also revealed that some people held the view that the the parent assumes the role of the teacher while the child
virus is an exaggerated event. In this study, some parents acts as the passive listener. Parents can assume the teaching
reported that high temperature could reduce the severity role if they do not trust their children can efficiently
of the virus. There was also a religious interpretation of the comprehend information (Putnam et al., 2002) or if the
virus, with certain parents believing that the virus could parents are not educated enough to answer their children’s
not harm them as they are protected by God. A study by queries. Occasionally, as this study found, the parents were
Pieterse & Landman (2019) also found that many people only able to respond to queries regarding safety measures
held the view that God is still in control despite the raging even if their children’s inquiries were concerned with other
pandemic. Despite these diverging views, parents would aspects of the pandemic. This once again emphasizes the
still ensure that their children were informed about the need for media to exude professionalism in their coverage
safety measures, which are designed to protect them from of the pandemic. Additionally, parents ought to consider
the virus. This underscores parents’ protective roles in the the emotional needs of their children when communicating
face of uncertainties, like the COVID-19 pandemic. sensitive issues, such as those related to the pandemic
The study found that the media remain the major (Peplak et al., 2021).
source of information about COVID-19 for parents. This Taken together, parent-adolescent discussions about
is similar to the findings of Apuke & Omar (2021) who COVID-19 influenced the children’s compliance with safety
found that the media paid adequate attention to the issues measures as well as instilled in them the basic hygiene
of coronavirus. Parents regularly tune in to the television concept. Parents reported that after the discussions, the
to get updated with the news about the coronavirus overall hygiene of their children improved, face mask wearing
(Ugwu, 2020). According to these parents, stories about became more frequent, physical distancing was practiced,
COVID-19 could also be derived from other sources and hand washing became more regular. This is significant
(e.g., religious organizations), but it was the media showing for the effort to control the spread of the virus because the
the severity of the disease that compelled them to take the children also, in turn, reminded their parents whenever they
whole situation seriously. This motivated them to initiate fail to adhere to the measures they proposed. Ugwu (2020)
the conversation about the virus with their adolescent similarly reported that during the peak of the pandemic,

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 104 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.363