Summer 2020 Remote Research

With the outbreak and continued spread of COVID- 19, lockdowns, layoffs, and public measures to contain the virus have significantly impacted day-to-day life. For parents and caregivers, they may be navigating remote work or facing job loss and unemployment stress. For children out of school or childcare, they may be without structured access to educational activities or opportunities for social interaction. For populations that are socially vulnerable, these effects may be heightened (Cluveretal.,2020). To understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family stress, functioning, and well-being, the Puffer Lab developed and is administering an online survey battery to families with children in the American South. As part of this study, I conducted a literature review to understand the construct of social vulnerability in the context of COVID-19 within the city of Durham, N.C. and across the greater Research Triangle. I also supported the recruitment of socially vulnerable populations, including (but not limited to) racial and ethnic and sexual and gender minority populations. Next steps will include completion of baseline data collection, analysis, and re-administration of survey measures. Data will be relevant to a post-pandemic setting, where health and economic impacts continue to persist.