Qatar - DIFI study reveals positive impacts Covid-19 made on family bonds

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fazeena Saleem | The Peninsula

Doha: Despite the many challenges that COVID-19 pandemic fuelled, it has also provided an opportunity for family members to connect and cooperate in the Gulf region, including in Qatar, revealed a study. 

According to the study conducted by Qatar Foundation's Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), about 60 percent of surveyed families reported an improvement in marital and parental relations as household members spent more time together while cases of domestic violence dropped, said Khalid Al Naama, Family Policy Director, DIFI.

“The study revealed that the pandemic has had a positive impact on family cohesion despite the challenges. Family relationships became stronger as family members worked closely together to overcome the obstacles they faced,” Al Naama, told The Peninsula. 

The study covered a broad range of challenges that families faced and weathered during the pandemic. 

The social, health and financial ramifications of the pandemic and the role that government policies played in supporting and helping households mitigate the negative impact of the crisis were also at the core of the study.

The pandemic's impact on families in Qatar and across the region was at the heart of discussions that touched on both government policies in responding to the outbreak as well as the key role that family members played to support each other during the crisis.

“The child welfare study that DIFI conducted before and after the pandemic has also showed that the percentage of those who spend more than 30 hours a week with their children had increased from 29% to 45%. 

“Spending longer duration with children has its positive aspects on family members, as it improves the parent-child relationship, increases the sense of safety, improves self-confidence, and leads to a higher level of academic achievement in general, the study showed,” said Al Naama. 

Also families faced several key challenges during the pandemic mainly in terms of striking the right balance between work and family duties. 

On the one hand, parents were abruptly forced to embrace remote work, while children had to pivot to remote learning in an uncertain environment plagued with feelings of anxiety.

“One of the main challenges in this regard was social isolation, which most families had to go through. 

“The pandemic also had an impact on people's health both physically and mentally. The study showed that participants had become more susceptible to obesity during the pandemic,” said Al Naama.

“The lockdown also had a financial impact, leading to salary reductions or pay cuts and reduced spending, the study showed,” he added.

He also said that government's actions across the Gulf contributed to easing the burden of the pandemic on families both in terms of healthcare provision and flexible work policies.

“By offering residents of the region the best healthcare services possible while embracing remote work policies across various industries, Gulf States contributed to improving the life-work balance for households in various fields,” said Al Naama. 

“Qatar, in particular, has taken a key step forward when the government approved part-time work across government agencies in a bid to strengthen family bonds,” he added. 

Al Naama emphasised that the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of embracing and expanding flexible work policies in the post-pandemic era. 

The impact of such flexible policies on family bonds will be the focus of further studies to assess how governments and private organisations may further contribute to community development and economic prosperity.

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