Health and wellbeing of families during the covid-19 pandemic in Finland : Positive and negative impacts on families’ daily lives
Ranta, Iina (2022)
Ranta, Iina
2022
Master's Programme in Public and Global Health
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-09-08
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202208226622
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202208226622
Tiivistelmä
In 2019 a new Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) was observed in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 was first declared as a local epidemic and due to fast spreading, it was soon stated a global pandemic. Families have been facing an exceptional situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading around the world in 2019-2022. In Finland, large scale restrictions took place during the spring 2020. Mitigation actions and especially lockdowns meant difficulties to the families. While crises weaken some families, it is noteworthy that other families are getting stronger and inventing new ways to function.
The purpose of this thesis is to study and understand the health and wellbeing of families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to investigate the outcomes and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to the families’ everyday lives. This thesis examines the positive and negative effects that these families confronted.
The research is based on a questionnaire by The Finnish Central Union for Child Welfare in cooperation with the Equal opportunities for life (‘Kaikille Eväät Elämään’) -program, the aim was to monitor the daily lives and state of the families in the time of the pandemic. The questionnaire included both open ended as well as close-ended questions. Qualitative content analysis has been used to analyze the data. This method enables the systematical and objective interpretations of the responses.
The results showed that the exceptional circumstances caused by the restrictions and mitigation actions due to coronavirus influenced families mostly in negative manners. Thus, there were positive effects as well. This confirms the fact that people and families confront difficulties and crisis in different manners. The main categories were positive and negative impacts, and the sub-categories were formed by observing the data through the research question. Clear patterns and recurring matters were found, these sub-categories were emphasized in the words of the respondents.
These study results suggest that families’ health and wellbeing is affected by unexpected crisis. This stresses the fact that it is necessary to invest in the health and wellbeing of families, and to prepare for situations alike. More research is needed to understand the adversities families confronted, and the capabilities they had to overcome these issues.
The purpose of this thesis is to study and understand the health and wellbeing of families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to investigate the outcomes and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to the families’ everyday lives. This thesis examines the positive and negative effects that these families confronted.
The research is based on a questionnaire by The Finnish Central Union for Child Welfare in cooperation with the Equal opportunities for life (‘Kaikille Eväät Elämään’) -program, the aim was to monitor the daily lives and state of the families in the time of the pandemic. The questionnaire included both open ended as well as close-ended questions. Qualitative content analysis has been used to analyze the data. This method enables the systematical and objective interpretations of the responses.
The results showed that the exceptional circumstances caused by the restrictions and mitigation actions due to coronavirus influenced families mostly in negative manners. Thus, there were positive effects as well. This confirms the fact that people and families confront difficulties and crisis in different manners. The main categories were positive and negative impacts, and the sub-categories were formed by observing the data through the research question. Clear patterns and recurring matters were found, these sub-categories were emphasized in the words of the respondents.
These study results suggest that families’ health and wellbeing is affected by unexpected crisis. This stresses the fact that it is necessary to invest in the health and wellbeing of families, and to prepare for situations alike. More research is needed to understand the adversities families confronted, and the capabilities they had to overcome these issues.